Systems and methods for positioning mobile devices in a fifth generation wireless network

ABSTRACT

Techniques described herein are directed toward enabling location support for 5G New Radio (NR) wireless access by a user equipment (UE) by utilizing existing LTE location support. More specifically, LTE positioning protocol (LPP) messages may be communicated between a UE with NR wireless access and a location server (e.g. an LMF) in a 5G Core Network via an NG-RAN. The LPP messages may support RAT-independent and E-UTRA position methods by the UE such as A-GNSS or OTDOA for E-UTRA. The location server may obtain OTDOA related information from eNBs and ng-eNBs supporting LTE wireless access. A UE may request measurement gaps from a 5G base station (e.g. gNB) in order to obtain measurements for RAT-independent and E-UTRA position methods and may request an idle period in order to obtain LTE timing needed for E-UTRA measurements.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/511,958, filed May 26, 2017, entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FORPOSITIONING IN A 5G WIRELESS NETWORK”, and incorporated herein in itsentirety by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to electronic devices, andmore particularly to methods and apparatuses for use to support locationof a mobile device using a fifth-generation (5G) wireless network.

2. Information

Standards to support 5G wireless networks are being developed by the 3rdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP). In the first release of 5G (3GPPRelease 15), the 5G core network (5GC) is expected to support voiceservices and emergency calls. In some regions (e.g., US, Japan),supporting emergency calls may require supporting an accurate locationof a mobile device. However, there may be no native 5G positioningsupport in the first release (Release 15) of the Next Generation RadioAccess network (NG-RAN) used to support 5G wireless access. While anemergency call instigated over 5G might be redirected via fallback tofourth-generation (4G, or Long-Term Evolution (LTE)) where locationsupport exists, the fallback may reduce the reliability of emergencycalls (e.g. when 4G wireless coverage is not available) and may notcomply with regulatory requirements in some countries. Therefore asolution is needed whereby an emergency call can be setup using 5Gwireless access with location support but without location support using5G wireless access positioning methods.

SUMMARY

Techniques described herein are directed toward enabling locationsupport for 5G wireless access by utilizing existing LTE locationsupport. More specifically, LTE positioning protocol (LPP) messages maybe communicated between a user equipment (UE) and a location managementfunction (LMF) in the 5GC via an NG-RAN for location support. The UE mayalso receive timing information and take measurements using existing LTEbase stations.

An example method at a user equipment (UE) of supporting location of theUE with Fifth Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) wireless access, accordingto the disclosure, comprises receiving a first Long Term Evolution (LTE)Positioning Protocol (LPP) message from a location server, wherein thefirst LPP message comprises a location request and is received via aserving 5G base station. The method further comprises obtaining at leastone location measurement based on the first LPP message, where the atleast one location measurement comprises a measurement for a RadioAccess Technology (RAT)-independent position method or a measurement foran Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) position method.The method also comprises determining location information based on theat least one location measurement, and sending a second LPP message tothe location server, where the second LPP message comprises the locationinformation and is sent via the serving 5G base station.

Alternative embodiments of the method may include one or more of thefollowing features. The location server may comprise a LocationManagement Function (LMF). The location information may comprise alocation estimate for the UE. The location information may comprise theat least one location measurement. The first LPP message may comprise anLPP Request Location Information message and the second LPP messagecomprises an LPP Provide Location Information message. The at least onelocation measurement may comprise a location measurement for theRAT-independent position method, and the RAT-independent position methodmay comprise Assisted Global Navigation Satellite System (A-GNSS), RealTime Kinematics (RTK), Precise Point Positioning (PPP), DifferentialA-GNSS, Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), Bluetooth, Sensors, or anycombination thereof. The at least one location measurement may comprisea location measurement for the E-UTRA position method, and the E-UTRAposition method may comprise Observed Time Difference Of Arrival (OTDOA)for E-UTRA or Enhanced Cell ID (ECID) for E-UTRA, or any combinationthereof. The method may further comprise receiving a third LPP messagefrom the location server, wherein the third LPP message comprisesassistance data for the RAT-independent position method or the E-UTRAposition method and is received via the serving 5G base station, andwherein obtaining the at least one location measurement is based on theassistance data. The third LPP message may comprise an LPP ProvideAssistance Data message. The method may further comprise sending arequest for measurement gaps to the serving 5G base station, andobtaining the at least one location measurement during a measurementgap. The request for measurement gaps may comprise an NR Radio ResourceControl (RRC) message. The at least one location measurement maycomprise a Reference Signal Time Difference (RSTD) measurement for OTDOAfor E-UTRA, and the method may further comprise sending a request for anidle period to the serving 5G base station, and obtaining LTE timing anda System Frame Number (SFN) for an OTDOA reference cell during the idleperiod, where the request for measurement gaps is based on the LTEtiming and the SFN. The OTDOA reference cell may comprise a cell for anevolved Node B (eNB) in an E-UTRA network (E-UTRAN) or a cell for a nextgeneration eNB (ng-eNB) in a Next Generation Radio Access Network(NG-RAN), wherein the serving 5G base station is in the NG-RAN. Therequest for an idle period may comprise an NR Radio Resource Control(RRC) message. The method may further comprise receiving a fourth LPPmessage from the location server, where the fourth LPP message comprisesa request for LPP positioning capabilities of the UE and is received viathe serving 5G base station, and the method also comprises sending afifth LPP message to the location server, wherein the fifth LPP messagecomprises the LPP positioning capabilities of the UE when the UE has NRwireless access and is sent via the serving 5G base station. The fourthLPP message may comprise an LPP Request Capabilities message and thefifth LPP message may comprise an LPP Provide Capabilities message. Themethod may further comprise sending an indication to an AccessManagement Function (AMF), wherein the indication comprises anindication that the UE supports LPP with NR wireless access, wherein theAMF transfers the indication to the location server. The first LPPmessage may be received in a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) transport messageand the second LPP message may be sent in a NAS transport message.

An example user equipment (UE) with Fifth Generation (5G) New Radio (NR)wireless access, according to the disclosure, comprises a wirelesscommunication interface, a memory, and a processing unit communicativelycoupled with the wireless communication interface and the memory, andconfigured to cause the UE to receive, using the wireless communicationinterface, a first Long Term Evolution (LTE) Positioning Protocol (LPP)message from a location server, where the first LPP message comprises alocation request and is received via a serving Fifth Generation (5G)base station. The processing unit is further configured to cause the UEto obtain, using the wireless communication interface, at least onelocation measurement based on the first LPP message, where the at leastone location measurement comprises a measurement for a Radio AccessTechnology (RAT)-independent position method or a measurement for anEvolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) position method. Theprocessing unit is also configured to cause the UE to determine locationinformation based on the at least one location measurement, and send,using the wireless communication interface, a second LPP message to thelocation server, where the second LPP message comprises the locationinformation and is sent via the serving 5G base station.

Alternative embodiments of a UE may include one or more the followingfeatures. The processing unit may be further configured to cause the UEto determine the location information by determining a location estimatefor the UE. The processing unit may be configured to cause the UE toobtain the at least one location measurement comprising the measurementfor the RAT-independent position method, where the RAT-independentposition method may comprise Assisted Global Navigation Satellite System(A-GNSS), Real Time Kinematics (RTK), Precise Point Positioning (PPP),Differential A-GNSS, Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), Bluetooth,Sensors, or any combination thereof. The processing unit may beconfigured to cause the UE to obtain the at least one locationmeasurement comprising the measurement for the E-UTRA position method,where the E-UTRA position method may comprise Observed Time DifferenceOf Arrival (OTDOA) for E-UTRA or Enhanced Cell ID (ECID) for E-UTRA, orany combination thereof. The processing unit may be further configuredto cause the UE to receive, using the wireless communication interface,a third LPP message from the location server, where the third LPPmessage comprises assistance data for the RAT-independent positionmethod or the E-UTRA position method and is received via the serving 5Gbase station, and obtain the at least one location measurement based onthe assistance data. The processing unit may be further configured tocause the UE to receive the third LPP message comprising an LPP ProvideAssistance Data message. The processing unit may be further configuredto cause the UE to send, using the wireless communication interface, arequest for measurement gaps to the serving 5G base station, and obtainthe at least one location measurement during a measurement gap. Theprocessing unit may be configured to cause the UE to send the requestfor measurement gaps using an NR Radio Resource Control (RRC) message.The at least one location measurement may comprise a Reference SignalTime Difference (RSTD) measurement for OTDOA for E-UTRA, and theprocessing unit may be configured to cause the UE to send, using thewireless communication interface, a request for an idle period to theserving 5G base station, obtain LTE timing and a System Frame Number(SFN) for an OTDOA reference cell during the idle period, and base therequest for measurement gaps on the LTE timing and the SFN. Theprocessing unit may be further configured to cause the UE to receive,using the wireless communication interface, a fourth LPP message fromthe location server, where the fourth LPP message comprises a requestfor LPP positioning capabilities of the UE and is received via theserving 5G base station, and send, using the wireless communicationinterface, a fifth LPP message to the location server, where the fifthLPP message comprises the LPP positioning capabilities of the UE whenthe UE has NR wireless access and is sent via the serving 5G basestation. The processing unit may be further configured to cause the UEto send, using the wireless communication interface, an indication to anAccess Management Function (AMF), where the indication indicates thatthe UE supports LPP with NR wireless access, wherein the AMF transfersthe indication to the location server.

An example device, according to the description, comprises means forreceiving a first Long Term Evolution (LTE) Positioning Protocol (LPP)message from a location server, where the first LPP message comprises alocation request and is received via a serving Fifth Generation (5G)base station. The example device further comprises means for obtainingat least one location measurement based on the first LPP message, wherethe at least one location measurement comprises a measurement for aRadio Access Technology (RAT)-independent position method or ameasurement for an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA)position method. The example device also comprises means for determininglocation information based on the at least one location measurement, andmeans for sending a second LPP message to the location server, where thesecond LPP message comprises the location information and is sent viathe serving 5G base station. Alternative embodiments may include any ofa variety of additional functions. For example, in some embodiments, thelocation information may comprise a location estimate for the device.

An example non-transitory computer-readable medium, according to thedescription, has instructions embedded thereon to cause a user equipment(UE) to support location of the UE with Fifth Generation (5G) New Radio(NR) wireless access. The instructions are further configured to, whenexecuted by a processing unit of the UE, cause the UE to receive a firstLong Term Evolution (LTE) Positioning Protocol (LPP) message from alocation server, where the first LPP message comprises a locationrequest and is received via a serving 5G base station. Instructions arefurther configured to cause the UE to obtain at least one locationmeasurement based on the first LPP message, where the at least onelocation measurement comprises a measurement for a Radio AccessTechnology (RAT)-independent position method or a measurement for anEvolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) position method. Theinstructions are also configured to cause the UE to determine locationinformation based on the at least one location measurement, and send asecond LPP message to the location server, where the second LPP messagecomprises the location information and is sent via the serving 5G basestation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive aspects are described with reference tothe following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to likeparts throughout the various figures unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a communication system, according to anembodiment.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are illustrative examples of communication systems withdifferent architectures that may implement the techniques herein,according to some embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a signaling flow diagram illustrating the various messagessent between components of a communication system during an LPP locationsession, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a signaling flow diagram illustrating further messagescommunicated between various components of a communication system,according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a time based diagram illustrating the structure of anexemplary LTE subframe sequence with Positioning Reference Signal (PRS)positioning occasions.

FIG. 7 is a time based diagram illustrating further aspects of PRStransmission for an LTE cell supported by an eNB.

FIGS. 8-10 are flow diagrams illustrating aspects of a method ofsupporting location of a UE with 5G wireless access, according todifferent embodiments.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a UE.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a computer system.

Elements, stages, steps and actions with the same reference label indifferent drawings may correspond to one another (e.g. may be similar oridentical to one another). Further, some elements in the variousdrawings are labelled using a numeric prefix followed by an alphabeticor numeric suffix. Elements with the same numeric prefix but differentsuffices may be different instances of the same type of element. Thenumeric prefix without any suffix is then used herein to reference anyelement with this numeric prefix. For example, different instances170-1, 170-2, and 170-3 of an evolved Node B (eNB) are shown in FIG. 1.A reference to an eNB 170 may then refer to any of eNB 170-1, eNB 170-2,and eNB 170-3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Several illustrative embodiments will now be described with respect tothe accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The ensuingdescription provides embodiment(s) only, and is not intended to limitthe scope, applicability or configuration of the disclosure. Rather, theensuing description of the embodiment(s) will provide those skilled inthe art with an enabling description for implementing an embodiment. Itis understood that various changes may be made in the function andarrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope ofthis disclosure.

Techniques described herein are directed to providing location supportfor a UE that has wireless access to an NG-RAN. According to someembodiments, such a UE (with wireless access to an NG-RAN) may belocated using (i) Radio Access Technology (RAT)-independent positionmethods (e.g., Assisted Global Navigation Satellite System (A-GNSS),WiFi, Bluetooth, sensors, etc.), and/or (ii) RAT-dependent positionmethods for Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) (e.g.,Enhanced Cell ID (ECID), Observed Time Difference Of Arrival (OTDOA),etc.), which do not depend on new types of location support for 5Gwireless access. To manage the UE's location, the LTE PositioningProtocol (LPP) defined for supporting UE location over LTE in 3GPPTechnical Specification (TS) 36.355 may be reused (with little or nochange) for 5G wireless access by the UE. This may be enabled bytransferring LPP messages between a UE and a 5GC location server (e.g. aLocation Management Function (LMF)) using a transport protocol such as a5G Non-Access Stratum (NAS) protocol (referred to herein as 5G NAS).Transport (e.g., 5G NAS) messages that are used to transport messagesfor other services (e.g., network access, mobility management, sessionmanagement) may be transferred between an Access Management Function(AMF) in the 5GC and a UE via the NG-RAN as part of normal 5G operation.A suitable transport (e.g. 5G NAS) message or messages may then carryLPP messages between a UE and AMF with little or no extra impact to theNG-RAN. LPP messages may be transferred between an AMF and an LMF usinga new 5GC protocol. The new 5GC protocol may be similar to the LocationServices (LCS) Application Protocol (LCS AP) defined in 3GPP TS 29.171that is used between a Mobility Management Function (MME) and anEnhanced Serving Mobile Location Center (E-SMLC) to support location ofa UE with 4G (LTE) wireless access. This new 5GC protocol (forcommunication between an AMF and LMF) is referred to herein as “5G LCSAP”. The AMF may also tell the LMF (e.g., using the 5G LCS AP) that a UEhas 5G wireless access and may provide the 5G serving cell ID to theLMF.

The use of LPP in the manner described above may allow existingpositioning methods supported by LPP for LTE access by a UE to be reusedfor locating a UE with 5G wireless access. In some embodiments, forRAT-independent position methods, existing UE support may be reused,and/or part of the procedure described below in P1 to P4 may be used toallow a UE to make RAT-independent position measurements. In embodimentsusing E-UTRA RAT-dependent position methods (e.g. ECID and/or OTDOA), aUE may be able to tune away from 5G wireless access to make LTEmeasurements. In such embodiments, the procedure described below in P1to P4 may be used.

-   -   P1. The UE may request a short idle period (e.g., 10-50        milliseconds (ms)) from the serving 5G base station (referred to        herein as a gNB)—e.g., using a 5G Radio Resource Control (RRC)        protocol.    -   P2. The UE may tune away from 5G wireless access during the idle        period and acquire LTE timing (e.g., LTE System Frame Number        (SFN) and subframe boundaries) for a particular reference cell        indicated by the LMF in LPP assistance data (AD) previously        provided by the LMF to the UE.    -   P3. The UE may use the acquired LTE timing from P2 and the        already known 5G timing from previous 5G wireless access to        determine a series of periodic measurement gaps (e.g., lasting 6        ms each) in terms of 5G timing. For OTDOA for E-UTRA, the        measurement gaps can correspond to Positioning Reference Signals        (PRS) positioning occasions for LTE reference and neighbor cells        provided to the UE as OTDOA AD by an LMF (and as further        described herein in association with FIGS. 6 and 7). The UE may        determine a 5G signaling boundary such as the start of a 5G        radio frame or 5G subframe coinciding with the start of the        first measurement gap. The UE may then send a request for the        measurement gaps to the serving gNB—e.g., using a 5G RRC        protocol. This request may be assumed to be accepted by the gNB        or may be confirmed by the gNB (e.g., via a 5G RRC response        message).    -   P4. The UE may tune away from 5G wireless access during each        measurement gap and obtain one or more LTE measurements (e.g.,        Reference Signal Time Difference (RSTD) measurements for OTDOA).

Measurements obtained by the UE (e.g. as described above in P1-P4) maybe returned to the LMF in an LPP message (e.g., sent to the AMF in a NAStransport message and sent by the AMF to the LMF using 5G LCS AP).

These techniques can have limited impact to UEs and zero or low impactto the NG-RAN if a request for an idle period and measurement gaps issupported by the NG-RAN for other types of measurements (e.g., 5Gmeasurements to support cell change and handover). Additional detailsand embodiments are described below, with reference to the appendedfigures.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a communication system 100 capable ofimplementing the techniques described herein, according to anembodiment. Here, the communication system 100 comprises a userequipment (UE) 105, components of a 5G System (5GS) 185 comprising anNG-RAN 135 and 5GC 140. NG-RAN 135 may also be referred to as a 5G RadioAccess Network (5G RAN) or as a Radio Access Network (RAN) for NR. Thecommunication system 100 further comprises components of an evolvedpacket system (EPS) 145 supporting LTE wireless access, which includesan Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) Network (E-UTRAN)150 and an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) 155. The communication system 100may further utilize information from GNSS satellite vehicles (SVs) 190.Additional components of the communication system 100 are describedbelow. It will be understood that a communication system 100 may includeadditional or alternative components. EPS 145 may belong to or bemanaged by the same network operator who manages or owns 5GS 185 in someembodiments (or may be managed or owned by a different network operatorin other embodiments).

It should be noted that FIG. 1 provides only a generalized illustrationof various components, any or all of which may be utilized asappropriate, and each of which may be duplicated as necessary.Specifically, although only one UE 105 is illustrated, it will beunderstood that many UEs (e.g., hundreds, thousands, millions, etc.) mayutilize the communication system 100. Similarly, the communicationsystem 100 may include a larger or smaller number of SVs 190, eNBs 170,gNBs 110, ng-eNBs 180, external clients 130, and/or other components. Aperson of ordinary skill in the art will recognize many modifications tothe components illustrated. The illustrated connections that connect thevarious components in the communication system 100 comprise data andsignaling connections which may include additional (intermediary)components, direct or indirect physical and/or wireless connections,and/or additional networks. Furthermore, components may be rearranged,combined, separated, substituted, and/or omitted, depending on desiredfunctionality.

The UE 105 may comprise and/or be referred to herein as a device, amobile device, a wireless device, a mobile terminal, a terminal, amobile station (MS), a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) EnabledTerminal (SET), or by some other name. Moreover, UE 105 may correspondto a cellphone, smartphone, laptop, tablet, personal digital assistant(PDA), tracking device or some other portable or moveable device.Typically, though not necessarily, the UE 105 may support wirelesscommunication using one or more Radio Access Technologies (RATs) such asusing GSM, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband CDMA (WCDMA),LTE (e.g., the EPS 145), High Rate Packet Data (HRPD), IEEE 802.11 WiFi(also referred to as Wi-Fi), Bluetooth® (BT), Worldwide Interoperabilityfor Microwave Access (WiMAX), 5G new radio (NR) also referred to as just“5G” (e.g., using the NG-RAN 135 and 5GC 140), etc. The UE 105 may alsosupport wireless communication using a Wireless Local Area Network(WLAN) which may connect to other networks (e.g. the Internet) using aDigital Subscriber Line (DSL) or packet cable for example. The use of ormore of these RATs may enable the UE 105 to communicate with an externalclient 130 (via elements of 5GC 140 not shown in FIG. 1 or possibly viaGateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) 125) and/or enable the externalclient 130 to receive location information regarding the UE 105 (e.g.via GMLC 125).

The UE 105 may comprise a single entity or may comprise multipleentities such as in a personal area network where a user may employaudio, video and/or data I/O devices and/or body sensors and a separatewireline or wireless modem. An estimate of a location of the UE 105 maybe referred to as a location, location estimate, location fix, fix,position, position estimate or position fix, and may be geodetic, thusproviding location coordinates for the UE 105 (e.g., latitude andlongitude) which may or may not include an altitude component (e.g.,height above sea level, height above or depth below ground level, floorlevel or basement level). Alternatively, a location of the UE 105 may beexpressed as a civic location (e.g., as a postal address or thedesignation of some point or small area in a building such as aparticular room or floor). A location of the UE 105 may also beexpressed as an area or volume (defined either geodetically or in civicform) within which the UE 105 is expected to be located with someprobability or confidence level (e.g., 67%, 95%, etc.). A location ofthe UE 105 may further be a relative location comprising, for example, adistance and direction or relative X, Y (and Z) coordinates definedrelative to some origin at a known location which may be definedgeodetically, in civic terms, or by reference to a point, area, orvolume indicated on a map, floor plan or building plan. In thedescription contained herein, the use of the term location may compriseany of these variants unless indicated otherwise.

Base stations in the E-UTRAN 150 (a 4G RAN) comprise Evolved Node Bs(eNodeBs or eNBs) 170-1, 170-2, and 170-3 (collectively and genericallyreferred to herein as eNBs 170). Base stations in the NG-RAN 135comprise NR NodeBs (gNBs) 110-1 and 110-2 (collectively and genericallyreferred to herein as gNBs 110) and next generation eNBs (ng-eNBs) 180-1and 180-2 (collectively and generically referred to herein as ng-NBs180). Access to the LTE network supported by EPS 145 is provided to UE105 via wireless communication between the UE 105 and one or more of theeNBs 170. The eNBs 170 may provide wireless communications access to theEPC 155 on behalf of UE 105 using LTE. Similarly, access to the 5GS 185is provided to UE 105 via wireless communication between the UE 105 andone or more of the gNBs 110, which may provide wireless communicationsaccess to the 5GS 185 using 5G NR. In some embodiments, access to the5GS 185 is provided to UE 105 via wireless communication between the UE105 and one or more of the ng-eNBs 180, which may provide wirelesscommunications access to the 5GS 185 using LTE. Ng-eNBs 180 may provideLTE wireless access to UE 105 that is similar to or the same as LTEwireless access provided to UE 105 by eNBs 170 at a physical level.Furthermore, in some embodiments, NG-RAN 135 may contain gNBs 110 but nong-eNBs 180 or may contain ng-eNBs 180 but no gNBs 110. In addition, insome embodiments, EPS 145 may be absent.

In communication system 100, location support for UE 105 may employ LPPtransport between an LMF 120 and UE 105 using transport protocols suchas a 5G NAS protocol and 5G LCS AP as described previously. Use of LPPand transport of LPP may be similar or the same both for access by UE105 to 5GC 140 via gNBs 110 and for access by UE 105 to 5GC 140 viang-eNBs 180.

For LTE wireless access, the EPC 155 comprises a Mobility ManagementEntity (MME) 165, which can function as the main signaling node in theEPC 155, and may support mobility of UE 105 and provision of signalingaccess and voice bearer paths to UE 105. For positioning functionality,the MME 165 can relay information to and from an Enhanced Serving MobileLocation Center (E-SMLC) 160. E-SMLC 160 may support positioning of UE105 (also referred to as location of UE 105) when UE 105 accessesE-UTRAN 150 and may support position methods such as Assisted GNSS(A-GNSS), OTDOA, ECID, Real Time Kinematics (RTK) and/or WLANpositioning (also referred to as WiFi positioning) which are well knownin the art. E-SMLC 160 may also process location services requests forUE 105—e.g. received from MME 165. EPC 155 may contain other elementsnot shown in FIG. 1 such as a Packet Data Network (PDN) Gateway and/or aGMLC, for example.

For NR (5G) wireless access, the gNBs 110 can communicate directly orindirectly with an Access Management Function (AMF) 115, which, forposition functionality, communicates with the LMF 120. Similarly, forLTE wireless access to NG-RAN 135, the ng-eNBs 180 can communicatedirectly or indirectly with the AMF 115. Further, gNBs 110 and/orng-eNBs 180 may communicate directly with one another which may allowsome gNBs 110 and/or some ng-eNBs 180 to communicate only indirectlywith AMF 115 via one or more other gNBs 110 and/or ng-eNBs 180. AMF 115may support mobility of UE 105 including cell change and handover andmay participate in supporting a signaling connection to UE 105 andpossibly helping to establish data and voice bearers for UE 105. LMF 120may support positioning of UE 105 when UE accesses NG-RAN 135 and maysupport position methods such as Assisted GNSS (A-GNSS), OTDOA, ECID,RTK and/or WLAN positioning similar to E-SMLC 160. LMF 120 may alsoprocess location services requests for UE 105—e.g. received from AMF 115or from GMLC 125. In some embodiments, the LMF 120 may implementfunctionality similar to an E-SMLC such as E-SMLC 160 that would enablethe LMF 120 to query eNBs 170 in the E-UTRAN 150 (e.g. using the LTEPositioning Protocol A (LPPa) defined in 3GPP TS 36.455) and obtainassistance data from the eNBs 170 to support OTDOA positioning of the UE105 when UE 105 has NR or LTE wireless access via NG-RAN 135.Additionally or alternatively, this functionality may be enabled via theE-SMLC 160. For example, LMF 120 may be combined with E-SMLC 160 in thesame physical entity or may have communication access to E-SMLC 160.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, LMF 120 and eNBs 170 may communicate usingLPPa, wherein LPPa messages are transferred between eNBs 170 and LMF 120via MME 165 and E-SMLC 160. Here, LPPa transport between E-SMLC 160 andeNBs 170 (via MME 165) may be as defined for existing LTE location in3GPP TS 36.305 and transport of LPPa messages between E-SMLC 160 and LMF120 may be internal (e.g., if LMF 120 and E-SMLC 160 are combined) ormay use a proprietary protocol if LMF 120 and E-SMLC 160 are separate.In embodiments where UE 105 accesses 5GC 140 via LTE access to an ng-eNB180 in NG-RAN 135, messages similar to LPPa may be transferred betweenng-eNBs 180 and LMF 120 via AMF 115 (as shown by the dashed arrow 191 inFIG. 1). The messages similar to LPPa transferred as shown by the dashedarrow 191 may be messages for an NR Positioning Protocol A (NRPPa)defined in 3GPP TS 38.455 which may support transfer of informationidentical to or similar to that transferred using LPPa.

As further shown in FIG. 1, LPP messages may be exchanged between UE 105and LMF 120 via AMF 115 and NG-RAN 135 (e.g., via either gNB 110-1 orng-eNB 180-1 in NG-RAN 135) as shown by the solid arrow 192 in FIG. 1,For example, LPP messages may be transferred between LMF 120 and AMF 115using a 5G LCS Application Protocol (AP) and may be transferred betweenAMF 115 and UE 105, via a serving gNB 110 or serving ng-eNB 180 for UE105, using 5G NAS. Because the AMF 115 can relay LPP communication toand from UE 105 inside a 5G NAS message, the LPP communication may havelittle or no impact on the NG-RAN 135 (which may communicate the 5G NASmessage as it would any other 5G NAS message).

The LPPa and NRPPa protocols may enable a location server to request andobtain location related information from a base station concerningeither the location of a particular UE or location configuration for thebase station. Location related information provided by the eNBs 170 toLMF 120 (e.g. via E-SMLC 160 and MME 165) using LPPa may include timinginformation, information for PRS transmission by eNBs 170 (as describedlater in association with FIGS. 6 and 7), and location coordinates foreNBs 170. Similarly, location related information provided by theng-eNBs 180 to LMF 120 using NRPPa may include timing information,information for PRS transmission by ng-eNBs 180 (as described later inassociation with FIGS. 6 and 7), and location coordinates for ng-eNBs180. For example, in the case of LPPa, E-SMLC 160 or LMF 120 may send anLPPa message to eNB 170-1 via MME 165 (and possibly via E-SMLC 160 inthe case of an LPPa message sent from LMF 120) to request informationrelated to the location of UE 105 (e.g. such as location measurementsfor ECID positioning obtained by eNB 170-1 or obtained by UE 105 andtransferred to eNB 170-1) or related to a location configuration of eNB170-1 (e.g. such as a location of eNB 170-1 or a PRS configuration foreNB 170-1 for OTDOA positioning). ENB 170-1 may then obtain anyrequested location configuration information or location measurements(e.g. when location information for UE 105 is requested) and return therequested information back to E-SMLC 160 or LMF 120 via MME 165 (andpossibly via E-SMLC 160 when the information was requested by LMF 120).Use of NRPPa may occur in a similar manner with, for example, LMF 120sending an NRPPa message to gNB 110-1 or to ng-eNB 180-1 via AMF 115 torequest information related to the location of UE 105 or locationconfiguration for gNB 110-1 or ng-eNB 180-1, and with gNB 110-1 orng-eNB 180-1 returning the requested information back to LMF 120 inanother NRPPa message via AMF 115.

In the case of an NRPPa message sent to ng-eNB 180-1, LMF 120 mayrequest information similar to or the same as that which can berequested from eNB 170-1 using LPPa: this information may thus compriseECID location measurements for UE 105, the location of ng-eNB 180-1 orPRS configuration information for ng-eNB 180-1 applicable to OTDOApositioning of UE 105. In the case of an NRPPa message sent to gNB110-1, LMF 120 may request a serving cell identity (ID) for UE 105 orlocation measurements (e.g. measurements of Reference Signal ReceivedPower (RSRP) or Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) for LTE)obtained by UE 105 and provided to gNB 110-1 by UE 105 (e.g. using RRC).LMF 120 may also request (e.g. in a later 3GPP release), NR relatedlocation measurements obtained by gNB 110-1 for UE 105 or locationconfiguration information for gNB 110-1 such as NR PRS configurationinformation for gNB 110-1.

The LMF 120 can provide some or all of the location related informationreceived (e.g. using LPPa and/or NRPPa) from eNBs 170, ng-eNBs 180and/or gNBs 110 to the UE 105 as assistance data in an LPP message sentto the UE 105 via the NG-RAN 135 and 5GC 140.

An LPP message communicated from the LMF 120 to the UE 105 (e.g. viaNG-RAN 135) may instruct the UE 105 to do any of a variety of things,depending on desired functionality. For example, the LPP message couldcontain an instruction for the UE 105 to obtain measurements for GNSS(or A-GNSS), WLAN positioning, RTK, and/or OTDOA. In the case of OTDOA,the LPP message may tell the UE 105 to take one or more measurements(e.g. measurements of Reference Signal Time Difference (RSTD)) ofparticular eNBs 170 and/or ng-eNBs 180. Thus, if the UE 105 is served bya gNB 110 or ng-eNB 180 in NG-RAN 135, the UE 105 could behave as if itwere being served by E-UTRAN 150 and EPC 155 (rather than by NG-RAN 135and 5GC 140) in the case of measurements of particular eNBs 170.Similarly, if the UE 105 is served by a gNB 110 in NG-RAN 135, the UE105 could behave as if it were being served by an ng-eNB 180 in NG-RAN135 in the case of measurements of particular ng-eNBs 180. The UE 105may then send measurements back to the LMF 120 in an LPP message (e.g.,inside a 5G NAS message) via the NG-RAN 135.

It is noted that identification of ng-eNBs 180 as part of NG-RAN 135 inFIG. 1 is partly a matter of terminology. For example, an ng-eNB 180-1could be treated as being part of E-UTRAN 150 rather than as part ofNG-RAN 135 and could be referred to as an eNB 170-1 rather than as anng-eNB 180-1. Such an eNB 170-1 could still be connected to AMF 115rather than to MME 165, as indicated by the dashed line 193, to provideLTE wireless access to a UE 105 via 5GC 140 rather than via EPC 155. Inthat case, the eNB 170-1 could function exactly the same as the ng-eNB180-1. In such a case, the eNB 170-1 could communicate with LMF 120using NRPPa (or LPPa) rather than with E-SMLC 120 using LPPa, whereNRPPa (or LPPa) messages may be transferred between eNB 170-1 and LMF120 via AMF 115 and possibly via a gNB 110 (e.g. gNB 110-1) as describedlater with reference to FIG. 2 for when UE 105 is served by ng-eNB180-1. Similarly, when UE 105 is served by eNB 170-1, with eNB 170-1providing LTE access to 5GC 140 rather than to EPC 155, LPP messages maybe transferred between UE 105 and LMF 120 via AMF 115, eNB 170-1 andpossibly a gNB 110 (e.g. gNB 110-1) similarly to that described later inassociation with FIG. 2 for LPP message transfer when UE 105 is servedby ng-eNB 180-1.

As previously indicated, embodiments of the techniques provided hereincan be utilized in systems having different architectures. FIGS. 2 and 3are illustrative examples of communication systems 200 and 300,respectively, showing different architectures that may implement thetechniques herein, according to some embodiments. The differentarchitectures illustrated by FIGS. 2 and 3 provide different basestation arrangements for NG-RAN 135 and different ways of connectingbase stations in NG-RAN 135 to 5GC 140 for communication system 100.Thus, communication systems 200 and 300 can represent different variantsof communication system 100. Components of the communication systems 200and 300 correspond to those illustrated in the communication system 100illustrated in FIG. 1 and described above. These components include theUE 105, ng-eNB 180-1, gNB 110-1, NG-RAN 135, 5GC 140, AMF 115, and LMF120. Optional components, interfaces and protocols are illustrated withdashed lines, as described in more detail below. Here, an NR interface(NR-Uu), an LTE or enhanced or evolved LTE interface (eLTE-Uu), an AMFto NG-RAN interface (N2), an AMF to LMF interface (NLs), and a gNB tong-eNB interface (Xn) (which may also be a gNB to gNB and a ng-eNB tong-eNB interface) are shown as dashed or solid lines between components.Protocols LPP and NRPPa that are used between a pair of components arefurther illustrated by dashed and solid double arrows, where each arrowjoins the pair of components. An arrow passing through an intermediatecomponent illustrates where the intermediate component can relaymessages for the protocol illustrated by the arrow. For example, asillustrated, all communication in FIGS. 2 and 3 between the LMF 120 andother components are relayed via the AMF 115 which acts as anintermediate component. It will be understood by a person of ordinaryskill in the art that the architectures illustrated in FIGS. 2-3 mayinclude additional and/alternative components (such as GMLC 125 andexternal client 130 of FIG. 1), which are not illustrated. Moreover, itcan be further noted that, although an NG-RAN 135 and 5GC 140 areillustrated, embodiments described herein may be implemented with otherRAN and/or CORE components.

In communication system 200 in FIG. 2, gNBs 110 are present in NG-RAN135 and connect directly to AMFs in 5GC 140, as exemplified byconnection of gNB 110-1 in NG-RAN 135 to AMF 115 in 5GC 140. Whenng-eNBs 180 (e.g. the optional ng-eNB 180-1) are not present in NG-RAN135, communication system 200 may be referred to as a standalone 5G (orNR) architecture, also referred to in 3GPP as “Option 2”. With thisarrangement or option, LPP messages 210 can be exchanged between UE 105and LMF 120 via gNB 110-1 and AMF 115, and NRPPa messages 220 can beexchanged between gNB 110-1 and LMF 120 via AMF 115. When ng-eNBs 180(e.g. the optional ng-eNB 180-1) are present in NG-RAN 135,communication system 200 may be referred to as a standalone 5G (or NR)with non-standalone E-UTRA architecture, also referred to in 3GPP as“Option 4”. With this arrangement or option, when UE 105 is served byng-eNB 180-1, LPP messages 230 can be exchanged between UE 105 and LMF120 via gNB 110-1, ng-eNB 180-1 and AMF 115, and NRPPa messages 240 canbe exchanged between ng-eNB 180-1 and LMF 120 via gNB 110-1 and AMF 115.With this (Option 4) arrangement, LPP and NRPPa messages may not betransferred directly between AMF 115 and ng-eNB 180-1 but may instead betransferred via gNB 110-1 using the Xn interface to transfer themessages between gNB 110-1 and ng-eNB 180-1.

FIG. 3, similar to FIG. 2, illustrates different embodiments that can beimplemented depending on desired functionality. Here, however, the rolesof gNB 110-1 and ng-eNB 180-1 are reversed. Thus, in communicationsystem 300, ng-eNBs 180 are present in NG-RAN 135 and connect directlyto AMFs in 5GC 140, as exemplified by connection of ng-eNB 180-1 inNG-RAN 135 to AMF 115 in 5GC 140. When gNBs 110 (e.g. the optional gNB110-1) are not present in NG-RAN 135, communication system 300 may bereferred to as a standalone E-UTRA 5GS architecture, also referred to in3GPP as “Option 5”. With this arrangement or option, LPP messages 310can be exchanged between UE 105 and LMF 120 via ng-eNB 180-1 and AMF115, and NRPPa messages 320 can be exchanged between ng-eNB 180-1 andLMF 120 via AMF 115. When gNBs 110 (e.g. the optional gNB 110-1) arepresent in NG-RAN 135, communication system 300 may be referred to as astandalone E-UTRA with non-standalone NR architecture, also referred toin 3GPP as “Option 7”. With this arrangement or option, when UE 105 isserved by gNB 110-1, LPP messages 330 can be exchanged between UE 105and LMF 120 via gNB 110-1, ng-eNB 180-1 and AMF 115, and NRPPa messages340 can be exchanged between gNB 110-1 and LMF 120 via ng-eNB 180-1 andAMF 115. With this (Option 7) arrangement, LPP and NRPPa messages maynot be transferred directly between AMF 115 and gNB 110-1 but mayinstead be transferred via ng-eNB 180-1 using the Xn interface totransfer the messages between gNB 110-1 and ng-eNB 180-1.

It can be noted that use of the existing LPP protocol for positioning ofUE 105 with access to NG-RAN 135 as described and illustrated previouslywith reference to FIGS. 1-3 could be adapted or replaced by new ormodified protocols for NG-RAN 135 (or another RAN, if utilized). In someembodiments, adaptations might include an extension of LPP or areplacement of LPP which may be needed to support position methods inwhich UE 105 obtains measurements of NR signals transmitted by one ormore gNBs 110. Such NR related measurements could include measurementsof RSRP, RSRQ, RSTD, round trip signal propagation time (RTT) and/orangle of arrival (AOA). In one embodiment, referred to as AlternativeA1, LPP may be extended to support new NR RAT-dependent (and possibleother RAT-independent) position methods such as NR RAT-dependentposition methods similar to OTDOA or ECID for LTE access. In anotherembodiment, referred to as Alternative A2, an entirely new protocol(e.g. an NR Positioning Protocol (NPP or NRPP)) may be defined to beused instead of LPP, where the new protocol provides support for NRRAT-dependent and other RAT-independent position methods, In a furtherembodiment, referred to as Alternative A3, a new protocol (e.g. NPP orNRPP) may be defined that is restricted to supporting NR RAT-dependentposition methods only and is used in combination with LPP when both NRRAT-dependent and RAT-independent positioning (and/or LTE RAT-dependentpositioning) are needed. Alternative A3 may use one of three variants.In a first variant of A3, a message for the new protocol may be embeddedinside an LPP message as a new External Protocol Data Unit (EPDU)according to the definition of an EPDU in 3GPP TS 36.355. In a secondvariant of A3, an LPP message may be embedded inside a message for thenew protocol, for example using an EPDU similar to the definition of anEPDU in 3GPP TS 36.355. In a third variant of A3, the new protocol maybe separate from (e.g. not embedded within or capable of embedding) LPP,but with an LMF 120 and UE 105 able to exchange a message or messagesfor both the new protocol and LPP using the same NAS transportcontainer. In another embodiment, referred to as Alternative A4, a newprotocol may be defined that embeds portions of LPP to supportRAT-independent position methods and/or E-UTRA RAT-dependent positionmethods (e.g. via importing Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1) datatypes from LPP).

While the different alternatives A1 to A4 above may be most applicableto positioning a UE 105 with NR wireless access to a gNB 110 in NG-RAN135, they also may be applicable to positioning a UE 105 with LTE accessto an ng-eNB 180 in NG-RAN 135, due to the possibility of using NRRAT-dependent position methods for gNBs 110 nearby to UE 105 whosesignals are measurable by UE 105.

FIG. 4 is a signaling flow diagram illustrating the various messagessent between components of the communication system 100 during alocation session using LPP (also referred to as a session, an LPPsession or an LPP location session) between the UE 105 and the LMF 120,according to an embodiment. The signaling flow in FIG. 4 may apply whenUE 105 has NR (5G) wireless access to a gNB 110 in NG-RAN 135, which inthe example in FIG. 4 is assumed to be gNB 110-1. The LPP session can betriggered by action 401, when the LMF 120 receives a location requestfor UE 105. Depending on the scenario and the type of location supportin 5GC 140, the location request may come to the LMF 120, from the AMF115, or from the GMLC 125. The LMF 120 may query AMF 115 for informationfor the UE 105 or the AMF 115 may send information for UE 105 to LMF 120(e.g. if AMF 115 sends the location request at action 401 to LMF 120)(not shown in FIG. 4). The information may indicate that the UE 105 hasNR wireless access to NG-RAN 135, may provide a current NR serving cellfor UE 105 (e.g. a cell supported by gNB 110-1 which may be a servinggNB for UE 105) and/or may indicate that UE 105 supports location usingLPP when UE 105 has NR wireless access (or when UE 105 has access toNG-RAN 135). Some or all of this information may have been obtained byAMF 115 from UE 105 and/or from gNB 110-1—e.g. when the UE 105 performsa registration with AMF 115 (e.g. using NAS).

To begin the LPP session (e.g. and based on an indication of UE 105support for LPP with NR wireless access), the LMF 120 can send an LPPRequest Capabilities message to the AMF 115 serving the UE 105 (e.g.using 5G LCS AP), at action 402. The AMF 115 may include the LPP RequestCapabilities message within a 5G NAS transport message, which is sent tothe UE 105 at action 403 (e.g., via a NAS communication path in theNG-RAN 135, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3). The UE 105 may then respond tothe AMF 115 by sending an LPP Provide Capabilities message to AMF 115,also within a 5G NAS transport message, at action 404. The AMF 115 mayextract the LPP Provide Capabilities message from the 5G NAS transportmessage and relays the LPP provide capabilities message to the LMF 120at action 405 (e.g. using 5G LCS AP).

Here, the LPP Provide Capabilities message sent at actions 404 and 405can indicate the positioning capabilities of the UE 105 (e.g., positionmethods supported by the UE 105 such as A-GNSS positioning, RTKpositioning, OTDOA positioning, ECID positioning, WLAN positioning,etc.) while accessing a 5G network using NR. This means that some of thepositioning capabilities of the UE 105 could be different than when theUE 105 is accessing the EPC 155 via E-UTRAN 150 using LTE. For example,in some scenarios, although the UE 105 may have the capability ofsupporting OTDOA positioning for LTE (also referred to as OTDOA forE-UTRA) while accessing an LTE network, the UE 105 may not have thecapability of supporting OTDOA positioning for LTE while accessing a 5Gnetwork using NR. If this is the case, then the UE 105 may not indicatein the LPP Provide Capabilities message sent at actions 404 and 405 thatit has OTDOA positioning capabilities for LTE. In some other scenarios,UE 105 may be able to support LTE position methods such as OTDOA and/orECID when accessing a 5G network using NR (e.g. based on the techniquesdescribed herein), in which case the LPP Provide Capabilities messagesent at actions 404 and 405 may indicate this UE support. Thepositioning capabilities of UE 105 sent at actions 404 and 405 enablethe LMF 120 to determine which capabilities the UE 105 has whileaccessing a 5G network.

With the positioning capabilities of the UE 105, the LMF 120 candetermine assistance data for the UE 105 to support one or more of theposition methods indicated by UE 105 as supported. For example, if UE105 indicates support for OTDOA for LTE at actions 404 and 405, LMF 120may send an NRPPa OTDOA Information Request message to an ng-eNB 180-1at action 406 (relayed to the ng-eNB 180-1 via the AMF 115 at action407). The ng-eNB 180-1 may respond with an NRPPa OTDOA InformationResponse at action 408 (relayed to the LMF 120 via the AMF 115 at action409). LMF 120 may similarly send an LPPa OTDOA Information Requestmessage to an eNB 170-1 at action 410 (relayed to the eNB 170-1 via theMME 165 at action 411). The eNB 170-1 may respond with an LPPa OTDOAInformation Response at action 412 (relayed to the LMF 120 via the AMF115 at action 413). It will be understood that similar communicationsbetween the LMF 120 and other eNBs 170 and/or other ng-eNBs 180 mayoccur to collect OTDOA assistance data and that in some scenarios, LMF120 may request information (using LPPa) only from eNBs 170 or mayrequest information (using NRPPa) only from ng-eNBs 180. Furthermore, asindicated in FIG. 4 and described for FIG. 1, communications between theeNBs 170 and the LMF 120 may be relayed via the E-SMLC 160. Theinformation provided by each eNB 170 and each ng-eNB 180 to LMF 120 inan LPPa or NRPPa OTDOA Information Response (e.g. at actions 408-409 and412-413) may include location coordinates of the eNB 170 or ng-eNB 180,PRS timing information and PRS configuration information (e.g. PRSconfiguration parameters) for the eNB 170 or ng-eNB 180, as describedlater for FIGS. 6 and 7.

The LMF 120 may then send some or all of the assistance data received atactions 409 and 413 to UE 105 (e.g. may send PRS configurationinformation for eNB 170-1 and/or ng-eNB 180-1) via an LPP ProvideAssistance Data message sent to the AMF 115 at action 414, and relayedto the UE 105 in a 5G NAS transport message by AMF 115 at action 415.This may be followed by an LPP Request Location Information message,again sent from the LMF 120 to AMF 115, at action 416, which is relayedto the UE 105 in a 5G NAS transport message by AMF 115, and via gNB110-1, at action 417. The LPP Request Location Information message mayrequest one or more location measurements from UE 105 and/or a locationestimate according to the position capabilities of UE 105 sent to LMF120 at actions 404 and 405. The location measurements may for exampleinclude Reference Signal Time Difference (RSTD) measurements for OTDOAfor LTE, pseudorange or code phase measurements for A-GNSS, carrierphase measurements for RTK, WiFi measurements for WLAN positioning,and/or measurements of AOA, RSRP and/or RSRQ for ECID for LTE (alsoreferred to as ECID for E-UTRA).

In response, at block 418, the UE 105 may obtain some or all of thelocation measurements requested at actions 416 and 417. In someembodiments, and if requested at actions 416 and 417, UE 105 may alsoobtain a location estimate at block 418 based on the locationmeasurements and possibly based also on some or all of the assistancedata received at action 415. The location measurements or the locationestimate may be provided in an LPP Provide Location message, which maybe sent by the UE 105 to the AMF 115, via gNB 110-1, in a 5G NAStransport message at action 419. The AMF 115 may extract the LPP ProvideLocation message from the 5G NAS transport message, and relay it to theLMF 120 (e.g. using 5G LCS AP) at action 420. With this information, theLMF 120 may determine or verify the UE location, at block 421, andprovide a location response containing the determined or verifiedlocation to the requesting entity at action 422.

In FIG. 4, the LMF 120 may request the UE 105 to obtain OTDOA RSTDmeasurements for LTE at actions 416 and 417, and the OTDOA RSTDmeasurements obtained at block 418 may be obtained from ng-eNBs 180(e.g. ng-eNB 180-1) and/or from eNBs 170 (e.g. eNB 170-1). This maypresent an issue in cases when the carrier frequency used for LTEwireless access by ng-eNBs 180 and/or by eNBs 170 is different than thecarrier frequency of the 5G network for NR wireless access or whensimply measuring ng-eNB 180 and/or eNB 170 wireless signals (e.g., PRSsignals) prevents or obstructs normal NR wireless access by UE 105.Moreover, LTE timing of ng-eNBs 180 in NG-RAN 135 and/or LTE timing ofeNBs 170 in E-UTRAN 150 may be different than the timing used by gNBs110 in NG-RAN 135, making RSTD measurements of PRS signals for OTDOA(e.g. as described for FIGS. 6 and 7) difficult or impossible for UE105.

To address these issues, the UE 105 may be configured to tune away fromNR access to gNB 110-1 for a period of time (e.g., for 10-50 ms) toenable UE 105 to look for and find a suitable reference LTE cell (e.g.,supported by ng-eNB 180-1 or by eNB 170-1) that provides LTE coverage inthe area of the UE 105. Information regarding a particular reference LTEcell may be provided to the UE 105 by the LMF 120 at actions 414 and415. For example, prior to action 414, LMF 120 may determine thereference LTE cell based on the NR serving cell for the UE—e.g. bychoosing an LTE reference cell that has a similar or same coverage area.The UE 105 may obtain LTE timing (e.g. an LTE System Frame Number (SFN))and system information from the reference LTE cell. In order to allowthe UE 105 a period of time to tune away, the UE 105 may request an idleperiod from the serving gNB 110-1. Additional details regarding thisprocess are provided in FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a signaling flow diagram illustrating messages communicatedbetween various components of communication system 100 enabling a UE 105to tune away from NR wireless access for a serving gNB 110 in a 5Gnetwork in order to gather OTDOA timing information from ng-eNBs 180and/or eNBs 170 in an LTE network, according to an embodiment. FIG. 5may correspond to (e.g. may partially or fully support) block 418 inFIG. 4. It is noted that while FIG. 5 illustrates tuning away from NRwireless access to obtain OTDOA measurements for LTE, the same or asimilar procedure could be used to enable a UE 105 to tune away from NRwireless access to obtain other types of location measurements such asmeasurements for ECID positioning for LTE, A-GNSS, RTK and/or WLANpositioning.

At action 501, UE 105 sends an NR Radio Resource Control (RRC) idleperiod request to a gNB 110-1. GNB 110-1 may typically be the servinggNB (or primary serving gNB) for UE 105. The request may include therequested length of the idle period (e.g., 50 ms) and possibly when theidle period should occur, sufficient to measure and obtain LTE timinginformation later at block 506. Depending on desired functionality, thegNB 110-1 may reply by sending an RRC confirm idle period message ataction 502. (Otherwise, in some embodiments, the UE 105 can assume therequest sent at action 501 was accepted.) During the requested idleperiod, at block 503, gNB 110-1 may suspend NR transmission to UE 105and suspend NR reception from UE 105 in order to allow UE 105 to tuneaway from NR wireless access during the idle period.

The UE 105 can then tune away from the 5G NR carrier frequency (e.g. forgNB 110-1) during the idle period to an LTE carrier frequency supportedby ng-eNBs 180 and/or by eNBs 170. At block 506, the UE 105 can thenobtain LTE cell timing and a system frame number (SFN) for an OTDOAreference cell for ng-eNB 180-1 or eNB 170-1 during the idle period. TheLTE cell timing and SFN for a reference cell supported by ng-eNB 180-1or eNB 170-1 may be obtained by UE 105 from an RRC System InformationBlock (SIB) broadcast by ng-eNB 180-1 or eNB 170-1, respectively, ataction 504 or action 505, respectively. For example, UE 105 may acquireand measure a Master Information Block (MIB) and a SIB broadcast byng-eNB 180-1 or eNB 170-1. The identity and a carrier frequency for thereference cell may have been previously provided to UE 105 by LMF 120 aspart of the assistance data sent to UE 105 at actions 414 and 415. TheUE 105 may then tune back to NR wireless access to gNB 110-1.

At block 507, the UE 105 can convert the LTE timing of the PRSpositioning occasions for reference and neighbor cells for ng-eNBs 180and/or eNBs 170 provided by the LMF 120 (in the LPP assistance data sentat actions 414 and 415) to corresponding NR timing for the gNB 110-1.This may mean converting LTE PRS subframe timing as described later forFIGS. 6 and 7 to equivalent NR timing (e.g. in terms of NR subframes, NRradio frames or other NR signaling units). In performing thisconversion, UE 105 may determine NR measurements gaps (in terms of NRtiming) suitable for measuring LTE PRS signals from ng-eNBs 180 and/oreNBs 170.

As indicated in FIG. 5, it can be noted that functions described atactions 501-502 and 504-505 and blocks 503, 506 and 507 are optional,and may be used for OTDOA measurements, if desired. That is, in someembodiments the LMF 120 will provide the UE 105 with informationregarding PRS signals transmitted by the ng-eNBs 180 and/or the eNBs170, including the times at which those PRS signals are transmitted.However, these times may be relative to LTE timing. So, by obtainingtiming information from the LTE OTDOA reference cell (or some other LTEcell) at block 506, the UE 105 can discover the LTE timing andcorresponding absolute times (e.g. Global Positioning System (GPS)times) or local times (e.g. UE internal times) at which the PRS signalswill be transmitted. This can allow the UE 105 to convert the LTE signaltiming for PRS occasions to corresponding NR timing.

The actions performed at blocks 506 and 507 may be repeated by UE 105for each separate PRS carrier frequency used by the reference andneighbor cells which UE 105 was requested to measure by LMF 120 atactions 414 and 415, since typically ng-eNBs 180 and/or eNBs 170 woulduse a different LTE timing for each different carrier frequency butwould be synchronized when using the same LTE carrier frequency asdescribed later for FIGS. 6 and 7. This may enable UE 105 to determinethe NR timing corresponding to the LTE timing for each separate LTEcarrier frequency. However, if LMF 120 provides UE 105 with therelationship between LTE timing for each separate PRS carrier frequency(e.g. as supported by LPP and as described later in association withFIGS. 6 and 7), UE 105 may only need to obtain the NR timingcorresponding to one PRS carrier frequency at blocks 506 and 507,because the UE 105 can use the relationship between the LTE timing foreach separate PRS carrier frequency to infer the NR timing correspondingto each PRS carrier frequency.

UE 105 may then send an NR RRC measurement gap request to gNB 110-1 ataction 508 to request measurements gaps (e.g. which may comprise aseries of periodic short periods of around 5-10 ms, in some embodiments)with respect to NR timing. GNB 110-1 may optionally confirm the requestat action 509 (e.g. by sending an RRC confirmation message to UE 105) orUE 105 may assume the request will be supported. During each of themeasurement gaps, at block 510, gNB 110-1 may suspend NR transmission toUE 105 and suspend NR reception from UE 105 in order to allow UE 105 totune away from NR wireless access during each measurement gap.

The UE 105 can then periodically (when each measurement gap occurs) tuneaway from NR access to gNB 110-1 to acquire and measure a Time ofArrival (TOA) for a PRS broadcast for a reference or neighbor cell forng-eNB 180-1, at action 511, and acquire and measure a TOA for a PRSbroadcast for a reference or neighbor cell for eNB 170-1, at action 512.UE 105 may then obtain an OTDOA RSTD measurement at block 513 from thedifference of the two TOA measurements as described later for FIGS. 6and 7. It is noted that in this example, UE 105 is assumed to measure aPRS broadcast in a cell for each of ng-eNB 180-1 and eNB 170-1 and withone of these cells being a reference cell for OTDOA, However, otherscenarios are possible in which UE 105 measures a PRS broadcast in cellsfor a pair of eNBs 170 or a pair of ng eNBs 180 with one of these cellsbeing a reference cell. Furthermore, in all scenarios, UE 105 may obtainadditional TOA measurements during the measurement gaps for PRSbroadcast for other neighbor cells by other ng-eNBs 180 and/or othereNBs 170 and may use these additional TOA measurements to determineadditional RSTD measurements at block 513. Additionally or instead, UE105 may obtain other measurements at block 513 during the measurementsgaps such as GNSS or RTK measurements for SVs 190. This can be doneuntil sufficient measurements are obtained or until a maximum responseinterval has expired. At action 514, the UE 105 can then optionally senda RRC measurement gap stop message to the gNB 110-1 to advise gNB 110-1that measurement gaps are no longer needed.

The UE 105 can then include the measurements in an LPP Provide Locationmessage (e.g., at action 419, continuing the process illustrated in FIG.4).

In one variant to the procedure shown in FIG. 5, LMF 120 may provide therelationship between NR timing for gNB 110-1 and LTE timing (e.g. for anOTDOA reference cell for ng-eNB 180-1 or eNB 170-1) to UE 105 in theassistance data sent at actions 414 and 415. For example, LMF 120 mayrequest and obtain information from gNB 110-1 using NRPPa by using thesame or a similar procedure to that used to obtain OTDOA relatedinformation from ng-eNB 180-1 at actions 406-409. If the informationobtained from gNB 110-1 and the OTDOA related information obtained fromng-eNB 180-1 at actions 406-409 and/or from eNB 170-1 at actions 410-413include timing information (e.g. NR timing information relative to anabsolute time such as GPS time for gNB 110-1 and LTE timing relative toan absolute time for ng-eNB 180-1 and/or eNB 170-1), then LMF 120 may beable to infer the relationship between NR timing and LTE timing andprovide this as assistance data to UE 105 at actions 414 and 415. Inthis case, UE 105 may not need to perform actions 501-502, actions504-505 and blocks 506 and 507, and gNB 110-1 may not need to performblock 503.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of the structure of an LTE subframe sequencewith PRS positioning occasions, according to an embodiment. In FIG. 6,time is represented horizontally (e.g., on an X axis) with timeincreasing from left to right, while frequency is represented vertically(e.g., on a Y axis) with frequency increasing (or decreasing) frombottom to top, as illustrated. As shown in FIG. 6, downlink and uplinkLTE Radio Frames 610 are of 10 ms duration each. For downlink FrequencyDivision Duplex (FDD) mode, Radio Frames 610 are organized into tensubframes 612 of 1 ms duration each. Each subframe 612 comprises twoslots 614, each of 0.5 ms duration.

In the frequency domain, the available bandwidth may be divided intouniformly spaced orthogonal subcarriers 616. For example, for a normallength cyclic prefix using 15 kHz spacing, subcarriers 616 may begrouped into a group of 12 subcarriers. Each grouping, which comprises12 subcarriers 616, in FIG. 6, is termed a resource block and, in theexample above, the number of subcarriers in the resource block may bewritten as N_(SC) ^(RB)=12 For a given channel bandwidth, the number ofavailable resource blocks on each channel 622, which is also called thetransmission bandwidth configuration 622, is indicated as NE 622. Forexample, for a 3 MHz channel bandwidth in the above example, the numberof available resource blocks on each channel 622 is given by N_(RB)^(DL)=15.

In the architecture illustrated in FIG. 1, an ng-eNB 180 and/or an eNB170 may transmit a PRS (i.e. a downlink (DL) PRS) such as the PRSillustrated in FIG. 6 and (as described later) FIG. 7, which may bemeasured and used for UE (e.g., UE 105) position determination. Sincetransmission of a PRS by an ng-eNB 180 and/or eNB 170 is directed to allUEs within radio range, an ng-eNB 180 and/or eNB 170 can also beconsidered to broadcast a PRS.

A PRS, which has been defined in 3GPP LTE Release-9 and later releases,may be transmitted by ng-eNBs 180 and/or eNBs 170 after appropriateconfiguration (e.g., by an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) server). APRS may be transmitted in special positioning subframes that are groupedinto positioning occasions (also referred to as PRS positioningoccasions or as PRS occasions). For example, in LTE, a PRS positioningoccasion can comprise a number N_(PRS) of consecutive positioningsubframes where the number N_(PRS) may be between 1 and 160 (e.g. mayinclude the values 1, 2, 4 and 6 as well as other values). The PRSpositioning occasions for a cell supported by an ng-eNB 180 or eNB 170may occur periodically at intervals, denoted by a number T_(PRS), ofmillisecond (or subframe) intervals where T_(PRS) may equal 5, 10, 20,40, 80, 160, 320, 640, or 1280. As an example, FIG. 6 illustrates aperiodicity of positioning occasions where N_(PRS) equals 4 and T_(PRS)is greater than or equal to 20. In some embodiments, T_(PRS) may bemeasured in terms of the number of subframes between the start ofconsecutive PRS positioning occasions.

Within each positioning occasion, a PRS may be transmitted with aconstant power. A PRS can also be transmitted with zero power (i.e.,muted). Muting, which turns off a regularly scheduled PRS transmission,may be useful when PRS signals between different cells overlap byoccurring at the same or almost the same time. In this case, the PRSsignals from some cells may be muted while PRS signals from other cellsare transmitted (e.g. at a constant power). Muting may aid signalacquisition and RSTD measurement by a UE 105 for PRS signals that arenot muted by avoiding interference from PRS signals that have beenmuted. Muting may be viewed as the non-transmission of a PRS for a givenpositioning occasion for a particular cell. Muting patterns may besignaled (e.g. using LPP) to UE 105 using bit strings. For example, in abit string signaling a muting pattern, if a bit at position j is set to“0”, then UE 105 may infer that the PRS is muted for a j^(th)positioning occasion.

To further improve hearability of PRS, positioning subframes may below-interference subframes that are transmitted without user datachannels. As a result, in ideally synchronized networks, PRSs mayreceive interference from other cell PRSs with the same PRS patternindex (i.e., with the same frequency shift), but not from datatransmissions. The frequency shift, in LTE, for example, is defined as afunction of a PRS ID for a cell or Transmission Point (TP) (denoted asN_(ID) ^(PRS)) or as a function of a Physical Cell Identifier (PCI)(denoted as N_(ID) ^(cell)) if no PRS ID is assigned, which results inan effective frequency re-use factor of 6.

To improve hearability of a PRS further (e.g. when PRS bandwidth islimited such as with only 6 resource blocks corresponding to 1.4 MHzbandwidth), the frequency band for consecutive PRS positioning occasions(or consecutive PRS subframes) may be changed in a known and predictablemanner via frequency hopping. In addition, a cell supported by an ng-eNB180 or an eNB 170 may support more than one PRS configuration, whereeach PRS configuration comprises a distinct sequence of PRS positioningoccasions with a particular number of subframes (N_(PRS)) perpositioning occasion and a particular periodicity (T_(PRS)). Furtherenhancements of a PRS may also be supported by an ng-eNB 180 or an eNB170.

OTDOA assistance data is usually provided to a UE 105 by a locationserver (e.g. E-SMLC 160 or LMF 120) for a “reference cell” and one ormore “neighbor cells” or “neighboring cells” relative to the “referencecell.” For example, the assistance data may provide the center channelfrequency of each cell (also referred to as a carrier frequency),various PRS configuration parameters (e.g., N_(PRS), T_(PRS), mutingsequence, frequency hopping sequence, PRS ID, PRS code sequence, PRSbandwidth), a cell global ID and/or other cell related parametersapplicable to OTDOA.

PRS positioning by UE 105 may be facilitated by including the servingcell for the UE 105 in the OTDOA assistance data (e.g. with thereference cell indicated as being the serving cell). In the case of a UE105 with NR wireless access, the reference cell may be chosen by the LMF120 as some cell for an ng-eNB 180 or eNB 170 with good coverage at theexpected approximate location of UE 105 (e.g. as indicated by the knownNR serving cell for UE 105).

OTDOA assistance data may also include “expected RSTD” parameters, whichprovide the UE 105 with information about the RSTD values the UE 105 isexpected to measure at its current location between the reference celland each neighbor cell together with an uncertainty of the expected RSTDparameter. The expected RSTD together with the uncertainty define asearch window for the UE 105 within which the UE 105 is expected tomeasure the RSTD value (or a TOA value corresponding to an RSTD value).OTDOA assistance information may also include PRS configurationinformation parameters, which allow a UE 105 to determine when a PRSpositioning occasion occurs on signals received from various neighborcells relative to PRS positioning occasions for the reference cell, andto determine the PRS sequence transmitted from various cells in order tomeasure a signal Time of Arrival (TOA) or RSTD.

Using the RSTD measurements, the known absolute or relative transmissiontiming of each cell, and the known position(s) of ng-eNB 180 and/or eNB170 physical transmitting antennas for the reference and neighboringcells, the UE 105's position may be calculated (e.g., by LMF 120 or byUE 105). The RSTD for a neighbor cell “k” relative to a reference cell“Ref”, may be given as (TOA_(k)−TOA_(Ref)). TOA measurements fordifferent cells may then be converted to RSTD measurements (e.g. asdefined in 3GPP TS 36.214 entitled “Physical layer; Measurements”) andsent to the location server (e.g. LMF 120) by the UE 105. Using (i) theRSTD measurements, (ii) the known absolute or relative transmissiontiming of each cell, and (iii) the known position(s) of ng-eNB 180and/or eNB 170 physical transmitting antennas for the reference andneighboring cells, the UE 105's position may be determined.

FIG. 7 illustrates further aspects of PRS transmission for a cellsupported by an ng-eNB 180 or eNB 170. FIG. 7 shows how PRS positioningoccasions are determined by a System Frame Number (SFN), a cell specificsubframe offset (Δ_(PRS)) and the PRS Periodicity (T_(PRS)) 620.Typically, the cell specific PRS subframe configuration is defined by a“PRS Configuration Index” I_(PRS) included in the OTDOA assistance data.The PRS Periodicity (T_(PRS)) 620 and the cell specific subframe offset(Δ_(PRS)) (e.g. as shown in FIG. 7) are defined based on the PRSConfiguration Index I_(PRS), in 3GPP TS 36.211 entitled “Physicalchannels and modulation,” as exemplified in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 PRS periodicity PRS subframe PRS configuration T_(PRS)T_(PRS)offset Δ_(PRS) Index I_(PRS) (subframes) (subframes)  0-159 160 I_(PRS)160-479 320 I_(PRS) − 160   480-1119 640 I_(PRS) − 480  1120-2399 1280I_(PRS) − 1120 2400-2404 5 I_(PRS) − 2400 2405-2414 10 I_(PRS) − 24052415-2434 20 I_(PRS) − 2415 2435-2474 40 I_(PRS) − 2435 2475-2554 80I_(PRS) − 2475 2555-4095 Reserved

A PRS configuration is defined with reference to the System Frame Number(SFN) of a cell that transmits PRS. PRS instances, for the firstsubframe of the N_(PRS) downlink subframes comprising a first PRSpositioning occasion, may satisfy:(10×n _(f) +└n _(s)/2┘−Δ_(PRS))mod T _(PRS)=0  (1)where,

-   -   n_(f) is the SFN with 0≤n_(f)≤1023,    -   n_(s) is the slot number within the radio frame defined by n_(f)        with 0≤n_(s)≤19,    -   T_(PRS) is the PRS periodicity, and    -   Δ_(PRS) is the cell-specific subframe offset.

As shown in FIG. 7, the cell specific subframe offset Δ_(PRS) 752 may bedefined in terms of the number of subframes transmitted starting fromSystem Frame Number 0, Slot Number 0 750 to the start of the first(subsequent) PRS positioning occasion. In FIG. 7, the number ofconsecutive positioning subframes 618 (N_(PRS)) equals 4.

In some embodiments, when UE 105 receives a PRS configuration indexI_(PRS) in the OTDOA assistance data for a particular cell, UE 105 maydetermine the PRS periodicity T_(PRS) and PRS subframe offset Δ_(PRS)using Table 1. The UE 105 may then determine the radio frame, subframeand slot when a PRS is scheduled in the cell (e.g. using equation (1)).The OTDOA assistance data may be determined by LMF 120 and includesassistance data for a reference cell, and a number of neighbor cellssupported by ng-eNBs 180 and/or eNBs 170.

Typically, PRS occasions from all cells in a network that use the samecarrier frequency are aligned in time and may have a fixed known timeoffset relative to other cells in the network that use a differentcarrier frequency. In SFN-synchronous networks all ng-eNBs 180 and alleNBs 170 may be aligned on both frame boundary and system frame number.Therefore, in SFN-synchronous networks all cells supported by ng-eNBs180 and eNBs 170 may use the same PRS configuration index for anyparticular frequency of PRS transmission. On the other hand, inSFN-asynchronous networks all ng-eNBs 180 and all eNBs 170 may bealigned on a frame boundary, but not system frame number. Thus, inSFN-asynchronous networks the PRS configuration index for each cell maybe configured separately by the network so that PRS occasions align intime.

UE 105 may determine the LTE timing (also referred to as PRS timing) ofthe PRS occasions of the reference and neighbor cells for OTDOApositioning, if UE 105 can obtain the cell timing (e.g., SFN or FrameNumber) of at least one of the cells (e.g., the reference cell)—e.g. asat block 506 in FIG. 5. The LTE timing of the other cells may then bederived by UE 105, for example based on the assumption that PRSoccasions from different cells overlap.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show how LTE PRS timing may be conveyed, converted, and/ormeasured at blocks 506, 507 and 513 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 800 of supportinglocation of a UE with 5G NR wireless access, according to an embodiment.It can be noted that, as with figures appended hereto, FIG. 8 isprovided as a non-limiting example. Other embodiments may vary,depending on desired functionality. For example, the functional blocksillustrated in method 800 may be combined, separated, or rearranged toaccommodate different embodiments. The method 800 may be performed by aUE such as the UE 105. Means for performing the functionality of method800 may include hardware and/or software means of a UE, such as the UE105 for FIGS. 1-5 and shown in FIG. 11 and described above.

The functionality at block 810 comprises receiving a first Long TermEvolution (LTE) Positioning Protocol (LPP) message from a locationserver such as a Location Management Function (e.g. LMF 120), where thefirst LPP message comprises a location request and is received via aserving 5G base station such as a gNB (e.g. gNB 110-1). Block 810 maycorrespond to action 417 in FIG. 4. Means for performing thefunctionality at block 810 can include, for example, processing unit(s)1110, bus 1105, memory 1160, wireless communication interface 1130,wireless communication antenna(s) 1132, and/or other hardware and/orsoftware components of the UE 105 as shown in FIG. 11 and describedbelow.

At block 820, at least one location measurement is obtained, based onthe first LPP message, where the at least one location measurement is ameasurement for a Radio Access Technology (RAT) independent positionmethod or a measurement for an Evolved Universal Terrestrial RadioAccess (E-UTRA) position method. In some embodiments, theRAT-independent position method may comprise Assisted Global NavigationSatellite System (A-GNSS), Real Time Kinematics (RTK), Precise PointPositioning (PPP), Differential A-GNSS, Wireless Local Area Network(WLAN) (also referred to as WiFi positioning), Bluetooth, Sensors, orany combination thereof. The E-UTRA position method may compriseObserved Time Difference Of Arrival (OTDOA) for E-UTRA or Enhanced CellID (ECID) for E-UTRA. Block 820 may correspond to block 418 in FIG. 4.

Means for performing the functionality at block 820 can include, forexample, processing unit(s) 1110, bus 1105, memory 1160, wirelesscommunication interface 1130, wireless communication antenna(s) 1132,and/or other hardware and/or software components of the UE 105 as shownin FIG. 11 and described below.

The functionality at block 830 includes determining location informationbased on the at least one location measurement. For example, thelocation information may comprise a location estimate for the UE.Alternatively, the location information may comprise the at least onelocation measurement. Block 830 may correspond to block 418 in FIG. 4.Means for performing the functionality at block 830 can include, forexample, processing unit(s) 1110, bus 1105, memory 1160, wirelesscommunication interface 1130, wireless communication antenna(s) 1132,and/or other hardware and/or software components of the UE 105 as shownin FIG. 11 and described below.

The functionality at block 840 includes sending a second LPP message tothe location server, where the second LPP message comprises the locationinformation and is sent via the serving 5G base station. Block 840 maycorrespond to action 419 in FIG. 4. Means for performing thefunctionality at block 840 can include, for example, processing unit(s)1110, bus 1105, memory 1160, wireless communication interface 1130,wireless communication antenna(s) 1132, and/or other hardware and/orsoftware components of the UE 105 as shown in FIG. 11 and describedbelow.

Alternative embodiments of the method 800 may include additionalfeatures, depending on desired functionality. For instance, in someembodiments, the first LPP message is an LPP Request LocationInformation message and the second LPP message is an LPP ProvideLocation Information message. Some embodiments may further includereceiving a third LPP message from the location server, where the thirdLPP message comprises assistance data for the RAT-independent positionmethod or the E-UTRA position method and is received via the serving 5Gbase station, and where obtaining the at least one location measurementis based on the assistance data. The third LPP message may be an LPPProvide Assistance Data message (e.g. as at action 415 in FIG. 4).

Some embodiments may further include receiving a fourth LPP message fromthe location server, where the fourth LPP message comprises a requestfor the LPP positioning capabilities of the UE and is received via theserving 5G base station, and sending a fifth LPP message to the locationserver. The fifth LPP message may comprise the LPP positioningcapabilities of the UE when the UE has NR wireless access and is sentvia the serving 5G base station. The fourth LPP message may comprise anLPP Request Capabilities message (e.g. as action 403 in FIG. 4) and thefifth LPP message may comprise an LPP Provide Capabilities message (e.g.as at action 404 in FIG. 4).

In some embodiments, the method 800 may further comprise sending arequest for measurement gaps to the serving 5G base station (e.g. as ataction 508 in FIG. 5), and obtaining the at least one locationmeasurement during a measurement gap (e.g. as at action 511, action 512or block 513 of FIG. 5). In such embodiments, the request formeasurement gaps may comprise an NR Radio Resource Control (RRC)message. Moreover, in some embodiments, the at least one locationmeasurement may comprise a Reference Signal Time Difference (RSTD)measurement for OTDOA for E-UTRA, and the method may further comprisesending a request for an idle period to the serving 5G base station(e.g. as at action 501 in FIG. 5), and obtaining LTE timing and/or aSystem Frame Number (SFN) for an OTDOA reference cell (e.g. for LTE)during the idle period (e.g. as at block 506 in FIG. 5), where therequest for measurement gaps is based on the LTE timing and/or the SFN(e.g. as described for block 507 for FIG. 5). The request for an idleperiod may comprise an NR RRC message. The OTDOA reference cell may be acell for an eNB (e.g. an eNB 170) in an E-UTRAN (e.g. E-UTRAN 150) ormay be a cell for an ng-eNB (e.g. an ng-eNB 180) in an NG-RAN (e.g.NG-RAN 135), which may include the serving 5G base station.

Some embodiments may further comprise sending an indication to an AccessManagement Function (AMF) (e.g. AMF 115), which may occur as part ofRegistration with the AMF, where the indication is an indication thatthe UE supports LPP with NR wireless access, and where the AMF transfersthe indication to the location server. Additionally or alternatively,the first LPP message may be received in a Non-Access Stratum (NAS)transport message (e.g. a 5G NAS transport message) and the second LPPmessage may be sent in a NAS transport message (e.g. a 5G NAS transportmessage), e.g. as described for FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 900 at a location server,such as an LMF (e.g. LMF 120), for supporting location of a userequipment (UE) such as UE 105 with Fifth Generation (5G) NR wirelessaccess, according to an embodiment. It can be noted that, as withfigures appended hereto, FIG. 9 is provided as a non-limiting example.Other embodiments may vary, depending on desired functionality. Forexample, the functional blocks illustrated in method 900 may becombined, separated, or rearranged to accommodate different embodiments.The method 900 may be performed by an LMF such as the LMF 120. Means forperforming the functionality of method 900 may include hardware and/orsoftware means of a computer system, such as the computer system 1200shown in FIG. 12 and described in more detail below.

The functionality at block 910 includes comprises sending a first LongTerm Evolution (LTE) Positioning Protocol (LPP) message to the UE, wherethe first LPP message comprises a location request and is sent via anAccess Management Function (AMF) (e.g., AMF 115) and a serving 5G basestation for the UE (e.g. gNB 110-1). Block 910 may correspond to action416 in FIG. 4. Means for performing the functionality at block 910 caninclude, for example, processing unit(s) 1210, bus 1205, communicationssubsystem 1230, wireless communication interface 1233, working memory1235, operating system 1240, application(s) 1245, and/or other hardwareand/or software components of the computer system 1200 as shown in FIG.12 and described below.

At block 920, a second LPP message is received from the UE, where thesecond LPP message comprises location information for the UE and isreceived via the AMF and the serving 5G base station, and where thelocation information is based on at least one location measurementobtained by the UE. The at least one location measurement may be ameasurement for a Radio Access Technology (RAT) independent positionmethod or a measurement for an Evolved Universal Terrestrial RadioAccess (E-UTRA) position method. In some embodiments, theRAT-independent position method may comprise Assisted Global NavigationSatellite System (A-GNSS), Real Time Kinematics (RTK), Precise PointPositioning, Differential A-GNSS, Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN),Bluetooth, Sensors, or any combination thereof. The E-UTRA positionmethod may comprise Observed Time Difference Of Arrival (OTDOA) forE-UTRA, and/or Enhanced Cell ID (ECID) for E-UTRA. Block 920 maycorrespond to action 420 in FIG. 4. Means for performing thefunctionality at block 920 can include, for example, processing unit(s)1210, bus 1205, communications subsystem 1230, wireless communicationinterface 1233, working memory 1235, operating system 1240,application(s) 1245, and/or other hardware and/or software components ofthe computer system 1200 as shown in FIG. 12 and described below.

At block 930, the functionality includes determining a location estimatefor the UE based on the location information. In some embodiments, thelocation information comprises the location estimate. In some otherembodiments, the location information comprises the at least onelocation measurement. Block 930 may correspond to block 421 in FIG. 4.Means for performing the functionality at block 930 can include, forexample, processing unit(s) 1210, bus 1205, working memory 1235,operating system 1240, application(s) 1245, and/or other hardware and/orsoftware components of the computer system 1200 as shown in FIG. 12 anddescribed below.

Alternative embodiments of the method 900 may have one or moreadditional features. For example, the first LPP message may comprise anLPP Request Location Information message and the second LPP message maycomprise an LPP Provide Location Information message.

In some embodiments, the method 900 may further comprise sending a thirdLPP message to the UE, where the third LPP message comprises assistancedata for the RAT-independent position method and/or the E-UTRA positionmethod and is sent via the AMF and the serving 5G base station, andwhere the at least one location measurement is based at least in part onthe assistance data. In these embodiments, the third LPP message maycomprise an LTP Provide Assistance Data message (e.g. as at action 414in FIG. 4). In these embodiments, the at least one location measurementmay be a location measurement for OTDOA for E-UTRA, where the assistancedata comprises assistance data for at least one eNB (e.g. an eNB 170) inan E-UTRAN (e.g. E-UTRAN 150) or at least one ng-eNB (e.g. an eNB 180)in an NG-RAN (e.g. NG-RAN 135) which may include the serving 5G basestation. In these embodiments, the assistance data may compriseconfiguration information for a PRS transmitted by the at least one eNBor by the at least one ng-eNB (e.g. as described for action 414 for FIG.4).

The method 900 may optionally comprise sending a fourth LPP message tothe UE, where the fourth LPP message comprises a request for the LPPpositioning capabilities of the UE and is sent via the AMF and theserving 5G base station, and receiving a fifth LPP message from the UE,where the fifth LPP message comprises the LPP positioning capabilitiesof the UE, when the UE has NR wireless access, and is received via theAMF and the serving 5G base station. In some embodiments, the fourth LPPmessage may comprise an LPP Request Capabilities message (e.g. as ataction 402 in FIG. 4) and the fifth LPP message may comprise an LPPProvide Capabilities message (e.g. as at action 405 in FIG. 4).Moreover, the method 900 may optionally comprise receiving an indicationfrom the AMF, where the indication is an indication that the UE supportsLPP with NR wireless access and where sending the fourth LPP message isbased on the indication.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 1000 at a 5G basestation such as a gNB for supporting location of a user equipment (UE)such as UE 105 with NR wireless access, according to an embodiment. Itcan be noted that, as with figures appended hereto, FIG. 10 is providedas a non-limiting example. Other embodiments may vary, depending ondesired functionality. For example, the functional blocks illustrated inmethod 1000 may be combined, separated, or rearranged to accommodatedifferent embodiments. The method 1000 may be performed by a gNB such asa gNB 110. Means for performing the functionality of method 1000 mayinclude hardware and/or software means of a computer system, such as thecomputer system 1200 shown in FIG. 12 and described in more detailbelow.

The functionality at block 1010 includes sending a first LPP messagereceived from an AMF (e.g. AMF 115) to the UE. For example, block 1010may include receiving the first LPP message (e.g. an LPP RequestLocation Information message) inside a NAS transport message from theAMF (or from the AMF via an ng-eNB such as an ng-eNB 180) and sendingthe first LPP message inside the NAS transport message to the UE asdescribed previously in association with FIGS. 1-3. In an embodiment,the 5G base station may be a serving base station for the UE. Block 1010may correspond to support of action 417 by gNB 110-1 in FIG. 4. Meansfor performing the functionality at block 1010 can include, for example,processing unit(s) 1210, bus 1205, communications subsystem 1230,wireless communication interface 1233, antenna 1250, working memory1235, operating system 1240, application(s) 1245, and/or other hardwareand/or software components of the computer system 1200 as shown in FIG.12 and described below.

At block 1020, the functionality includes receiving a request formeasurement gaps from the UE (e.g. as at action 508 in FIG. 5). Forexample, the request for measurement gaps may comprise an NR RadioResource Control (RRC) message. Means for performing the functionalityat block 1020 can include, for example, processing unit(s) 1210, bus1205, communications subsystem 1230, wireless communication interface1233, antenna 1250, working memory 1235, operating system 1240,application(s) 1245, and/or other hardware and/or software components ofthe computer system 1200 as shown in FIG. 12 and described below.

At block 1030, the functionality includes suspending NR transmission tothe UE and suspending NR reception from the UE during the measurementgaps, where the UE obtains at least one location measurement based onthe first LPP message during the measurement gaps, and where the atleast one location measurement is a measurement for a Radio AccessTechnology (RAT)-independent position method or a measurement for anEvolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) position method. Insome embodiments, the RAT-independent position method may compriseAssisted Global Navigation Satellite System (A-GNSS), Real TimeKinematics (RTK), Precise Point Positioning (PPP), Differential A-GNSS,Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), Bluetooth, Sensors, or anycombination thereof. Moreover, the E-UTRA position method may compriseObserved Time Difference Of Arrival (OTDOA) for E-UTRA and/or EnhancedCell ID (ECID) for E-UTRA. Block 1030 may correspond to block 510 inFIG. 5. Means for performing the functionality at block 1030 caninclude, for example, processing unit(s) 1210, bus 1205, communicationssubsystem 1230, wireless communication interface 1233, antenna 1250,working memory 1235, operating system 1240, application(s) 1245, and/orother hardware and/or software components of the computer system 1200 asshown in FIG. 12 and described below.

At block 1040, the functionality includes transferring a second LPPmessage received from the UE to the AMF, where the second LPP messagecomprises location information for the UE, and where the locationinformation is based on the at least one location measurement. Forexample, block 1040 may include receiving the second LPP message (e.g.an LPP Provide Location Information message) inside a NAS transportmessage from the UE and sending the second LPP message inside the NAStransport message to the AMF (or sending the second LPP message to theAMF via an ng-eNB such as an ng-eNB 180) as described previously inassociation with FIGS. 1-3. In one embodiment, the location informationcomprises a location estimate for the UE. In another embodiment, thelocation information comprises the at least one location measurement.Block 1040 may correspond to support of action 419 by gNB 110-1 in FIG.4. Means for performing the functionality at block 1040 can include, forexample, processing unit(s) 1210, bus 1205, communications subsystem1230, wireless communication interface 1233, antenna 1250, workingmemory 1235, operating system 1240, application(s) 1245, and/or otherhardware and/or software components of the computer system 1200 as shownin FIG. 12 and described below.

Alternative embodiments of the method 1000 may have one or moreadditional features. For example, and as at action 509 in FIG. 5, themethod 1000 may optionally comprise sending an RRC message to the UE,where the RRC message confirms the measurement gaps requested by the UEat block 1010. Moreover, in some embodiments, the at least one locationmeasurement comprises a Reference Signal Time Difference (RSTD)measurement for OTDOA for E-UTRA. In these embodiments, the method 1000may optionally further comprise receiving a request from the UE for anidle period (e.g. as at action 501 in FIG. 5), and suspending NRtransmission to the UE and suspending NR reception from the UE duringthe idle period (e.g. as at action 503 in FIG. 5), where the UE obtainsLTE timing and/or a System Frame Number (SFN) for an OTDOA referencecell during the idle period (e.g. as at block 506 in FIG. 5), and wherethe request for measurement gaps is based on the LTE timing and/or onthe SFN (e.g. as described for block 507 for FIG. 5). In theseembodiments, the request for an idle period may comprise an NR RadioResource Control (RRC) message. In these embodiments, the method 1000may further comprise sending an RRC message to the UE, where the RRCmessage confirms the idle period (e.g. as at action 502 in FIG. 5).

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a UE 105, which can beutilized as described in the embodiments described above and inassociation with FIGS. 1-10. It should be noted that FIG. 11 is meantonly to provide a generalized illustration of various components of UE105, any or all of which may be utilized as appropriate. In other words,because UEs can vary widely in functionality, they may include only aportion of the components shown in FIG. 11. It can be noted that, insome instances, components illustrated by FIG. 11 can be localized to asingle physical device and/or distributed among various networkeddevices, which may be disposed at different physical locations.

The UE 105 is shown comprising hardware elements that can beelectrically coupled via a bus 1105 (or may otherwise be incommunication, as appropriate). The hardware elements may include aprocessing unit(s) 1110 which may comprise without limitation one ormore general-purpose processors, one or more special-purpose processors(such as digital signal processing (DSP) chips, graphics accelerationprocessors, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and/or thelike), and/or other processing structure or means, which can beconfigured to perform one or more of the methods described herein. Asshown in FIG. 11, some embodiments may have a separate DSP 1120,depending on desired functionality. The UE 105 also may comprise one ormore input devices 1170, which may comprise without limitation one ormore touch screens, touch pads, microphones, buttons, dials, switches,and/or the like; and one or more output devices 1115, which may comprisewithout limitation, one or more displays, light emitting diode (LED)s,speakers, and/or the like.

The UE 105 might also include a wireless communication interface 1130,which may comprise without limitation a modem, a network card, aninfrared communication device, a wireless communication device, and/or achipset (such as a Bluetooth® device, an IEEE 802.11 device, an IEEE802.15.4 device, a WiFi device, a WiMAX™ device, cellular communicationfacilities, etc.), and/or the like, which may enable the UE 105 tocommunicate via the networks described above with regard to FIGS. 1-3.The wireless communication interface 1130 may permit data to becommunicated with a network, eNBs, ng-eNBs, gNBs, and/or other networkcomponents, computer systems, and/or any other electronic devicesdescribed herein. The communication can be carried out via one or morewireless communication antenna(s) 1132 that send and/or receive wirelesssignals 1134.

Depending on desired functionality, the wireless communication interface1130 may comprise separate transceivers to communicate with basestations (e.g., eNBs, ng-eNBs and/or gNBs) and other terrestrialtransceivers, such as wireless devices and access points. The UE 105 maycommunicate with different data networks that may comprise variousnetwork types. For example, a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) may be aCode Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, a Time Division MultipleAccess (TDMA) network, a Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA)network, an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA)network, a Single-Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA)network, a WiMax (IEEE 802.16), and so on. A CDMA network may implementone or more radio access technologies (RATs) such as cdma2000,Wideband-CDMA (WCDMA), and so on. Cdma2000 includes IS-95, IS-2000,and/or IS-856 standards. A TDMA network may implement Global System forMobile Communications (GSM), Digital Advanced Mobile Phone System(D-AMPS), or some other RAT. An OFDMA network may employ LTE, LTEAdvanced, New Radio (NR) and so on. 5G, LTE, LTE Advanced, NR, GSM, andWCDMA are described in documents from 3GPP. Cdma2000 is described indocuments from a consortium named “3rd Generation Partnership Project 2”(3GPP2). 3GPP and 3GPP2 documents are publicly available. A wirelesslocal area network (WLAN) may also be an IEEE 802.11x network, and awireless personal area network (WPAN) may be a Bluetooth network, anIEEE 802.15x, or some other type of network. The techniques describedherein may also be used for any combination of WWAN, WLAN and/or WPAN.

The UE 105 can further include sensor(s) 1140. Such sensors maycomprise, without limitation, one or more inertial sensors (e.g.,accelerometer(s), gyroscope(s), and or other Inertial Measurement Units(IMUs)), camera(s), magnetometer(s), compass, altimeter(s),microphone(s), proximity sensor(s), light sensor(s), barometer, and thelike, some of which may be used to complement and/or facilitate theposition determination described herein.

Embodiments of the UE 105 may also include a GNSS receiver 1180 capableof receiving signals 1184 from one or more GNSS satellites (e.g., SVs190) using an GNSS antenna 1182 (which may be combined in someimplementations with antenna(s) 1132). Such positioning can be utilizedto complement and/or incorporate the techniques described herein. TheGNSS receiver 1180 can extract a position of the UE 105, usingconventional techniques, from GNSS SVs (e.g. SVs 190) of an GNSS system,such as Global Positioning System (GPS), Galileo, Glonass, Compass,Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) over Japan, Indian RegionalNavigational Satellite System (IRNSS) over India, Beidou over China,and/or the like. Moreover, the GNSS receiver 1180 can use variousaugmentation systems (e.g., a Satellite Based Augmentation System(SBAS)) that may be associated with or otherwise enabled for use withone or more global and/or regional navigation satellite systems. By wayof example but not limitation, an SBAS may include an augmentationsystem(s) that provides integrity information, differential corrections,etc., such as, e.g., Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), EuropeanGeostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), Multi-functionalSatellite Augmentation System (MSAS), GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigationor GPS and Geo Augmented Navigation system (GAGAN), and/or the like.Thus, as used herein a GNSS may include any combination of one or moreglobal and/or regional navigation satellite systems and/or augmentationsystems, and GNSS signals may include GNSS, GNSS-like, and/or othersignals associated with such one or more GNSS.

The UE 105 may further include and/or be in communication with a memory1160. The memory 1160 may comprise, without limitation, local and/ornetwork accessible storage, a disk drive, a drive array, an opticalstorage device, a solid-state storage device, such as a random accessmemory (“RAM”), and/or a read-only memory (“ROM”), which can beprogrammable, flash-updateable, and/or the like. Such storage devicesmay be configured to implement any appropriate data stores, includingwithout limitation, various file systems, database structures, and/orthe like.

The memory 1160 of the UE 105 also can comprise software elements (notshown), including an operating system, device drivers, executablelibraries, and/or other code, such as one or more application programs,which may comprise computer programs provided by various embodiments,and/or may be designed to implement methods, and/or configure systems,provided by other embodiments, as described herein. Merely by way ofexample, one or more procedures described with respect to thefunctionality discussed above might be implemented as code and/orinstructions executable by the UE 105 (and/or a processing unit withinthe UE 105). In an aspect, then, such code and/or instructions can beused to configure and/or adapt a general purpose computer (or otherdevice) to perform one or more operations in accordance with thedescribed methods.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a computer system 1200,which may be used, in whole or in part, to provide the functions of oneor more network components as described in the embodiments above (e.g.,the LMF 120, AMF 115, gNBs 110, ng-eNBs 180, eNBs 170 etc.). It shouldbe noted that FIG. 12 is meant only to provide a generalizedillustration of various components, any or all of which may be utilizedas appropriate. FIG. 12, therefore, broadly illustrates how individualsystem elements may be implemented in a relatively separated orrelatively more integrated manner. In addition, it can be noted thatcomponents illustrated by FIG. 12 can be localized to a single deviceand/or distributed among various networked devices, which may bedisposed at different geographical locations.

The computer system 1200 is shown comprising hardware elements that canbe electrically coupled via a bus 1205 (or may otherwise be incommunication, as appropriate). The hardware elements may includeprocessing unit(s) 1210, which may comprise without limitation one ormore general-purpose processors, one or more special-purpose processors(such as digital signal processing chips, graphics accelerationprocessors, and/or the like), and/or other processing structure, whichcan be configured to perform one or more of the methods describedherein. The computer system 1200 also may comprise one or more inputdevices 1215, which may comprise without limitation a mouse, a keyboard,a camera, a microphone, and/or the like; and one or more output devices1220, which may comprise without limitation a display device, a printer,and/or the like.

The computer system 1200 may further include (and/or be in communicationwith) one or more non-transitory storage devices 1225, which cancomprise, without limitation, local and/or network accessible storage,and/or may comprise, without limitation, a disk drive, a drive array, anoptical storage device, a solid-state storage device, such as a randomaccess memory (“RAM”), and/or a read-only memory (“ROM”), which can beprogrammable, flash-updateable, and/or the like. Such storage devicesmay be configured to implement any appropriate data stores, includingwithout limitation, various file systems, database structures, and/orthe like. Such data stores may include database(s) and/or other datastructures used store and administer messages and/or other informationto be sent to one or more devices via hubs, as described herein.

The computer system 1200 may also include a communications subsystem1230, which may comprise wireless communication technologies managed andcontrolled by a wireless communication interface 1233, as well as wiredtechnologies (such as Ethernet, coaxial communications, universal serialbus (USB), and the like). The wireless communication interface 1233 maysend and receive wireless signals 1255 (e.g. signals according to NR orLTE) via wireless antenna(s) 1250. Thus the communications subsystem1230 may comprise a modem, a network card (wireless or wired), aninfrared communication device, a wireless communication device, and/or achipset, and/or the like, which may enable the computer system 1200 tocommunicate on any or all of the communication networks described hereinto any device on the respective network, including a UE (e.g. UE 105),other computer systems (e.g. an AMF 115, a gNB 110, an ng-eNB 180 and/oran eNB 170), and/or any other electronic devices described herein.Hence, the communications subsystem 1230 may be used to receive and senddata as described in the embodiments herein.

In many embodiments, the computer system 1200 will further comprise aworking memory 1235, which may comprise a RAM or ROM device, asdescribed above. Software elements, shown as being located within theworking memory 1235, may comprise an operating system 1240, devicedrivers, executable libraries, and/or other code, such as one or moreapplications 1245, which may comprise computer programs provided byvarious embodiments, and/or may be designed to implement methods, and/orconfigure systems, provided by other embodiments, as described herein.Merely by way of example, one or more procedures described with respectto the method(s) discussed above might be implemented as code and/orinstructions executable by a computer (and/or a processing unit within acomputer); in an aspect, then, such code and/or instructions can be usedto configure and/or adapt a general purpose computer (or other device)to perform one or more operations in accordance with the describedmethods.

A set of these instructions and/or code might be stored on anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium, such as the storagedevice(s) 1225 described above. In some cases, the storage medium mightbe incorporated within a computer system, such as computer system 1200.In other embodiments, the storage medium might be separate from acomputer system (e.g., a removable medium, such as an optical disc),and/or provided in an installation package, such that the storage mediumcan be used to program, configure, and/or adapt a general purposecomputer with the instructions/code stored thereon. These instructionsmight take the form of executable code, which is executable by thecomputer system 1200 and/or might take the form of source and/orinstallable code, which, upon compilation and/or installation on thecomputer system 1200 (e.g., using any of a variety of generallyavailable compilers, installation programs, compression/decompressionutilities, etc.), then takes the form of executable code.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that substantialvariations may be made in accordance with specific requirements. Forexample, customized hardware might also be used, and/or particularelements might be implemented in hardware, software (including portablesoftware, such as applets, etc.), or both. Further, connection to othercomputing devices such as network input/output devices may be employed.

It will be additionally apparent to those skilled in the art thatembodiments described herein may result in novel functionality at theUE, location server, and/or base station.

For example, embodiments may include a method of, means for, or deviceconfigured to perform functions at a location server to support locationof a UE with 5G NR wireless access, where the functions include sendinga first LPP message to the UE, wherein the first LPP message comprises alocation request and is sent via an AMF and a serving 5G base stationfor the UE. Functions further include receiving a second LPP messagefrom the UE, wherein the second LPP message comprises locationinformation for the UE and is received via the AMF and the serving 5Gbase station, where the location information is based on at least onelocation measurement obtained by the UE, and where the at least onelocation measurement comprises a measurement for a RAT-independentposition method or a measurement for an E-UTRA position method. Thefunctions also include determining a location estimate for the UE basedon the location information.

Alternative embodiments may additionally include one or more of thefollowing features. The location information may comprise the locationestimate or the at least one location measurement. The first LPP messagemay comprise an LPP Request Location Information message and the secondLPP message may comprise an LPP Provide Location Information message.The RAT-independent position method may comprise Assisted GlobalNavigation Satellite System (A-GNSS), Real Time Kinematics (RTK),Precise Point Positioning, Differential A-GNSS, Wireless Local AreaNetwork (WLAN), Bluetooth, Sensors, or any combination thereof. TheE-UTRA position method may comprise Observed Time Difference Of Arrival(OTDOA) for E-UTRA, or Enhanced Cell ID (ECID) for E-UTRA, or anycombination thereof. Functions may further include sending a third LPPmessage to the UE, where the third LPP message comprises assistance datafor the RAT-independent position method or the E-UTRA position methodand is sent via the AMF and the serving 5G base station, and where theat least one location measurement is based at least in part on theassistance data. The third LPP message may comprise an LPP ProvideAssistance Data message. The least one location measurement may comprisea location measurement for OTDOA for E-UTRA, wherein the assistance datacomprises assistance data for at least one evolved Node B (eNB) in anE-UTRA network (E-UTRAN) or at least one next generation eNB (ng-eNB) ina Next Generation Radio Access Network (NG-RAN), wherein the serving 5Gbase station is in the NG-RAN. The assistance data may compriseconfiguration information for a Positioning Reference Signal (PRS)transmitted by the at least one eNB or by the at least one ng-eNB.Functions may further comprise sending a fourth LPP message to the UE,where the fourth LPP message comprises a request for LPP positioningcapabilities of the UE and is sent via the AMF and the serving 5G basestation, and receiving a fifth LPP message from the UE, where the fifthLPP message comprises the LPP positioning capabilities of the UE whenthe UE has NR wireless access and is received via the AMF and theserving 5G base station. The fourth LPP message may comprise an LPPRequest Capabilities message and the fifth LPP message comprises an LPPProvide Capabilities message. Functions may further comprise receivingan indication from the AMF, where the indication comprises an indicationthat the UE supports LPP with NR wireless access, and where sending thefourth LPP message is based on the indication.

In another example, embodiments may include a method of, means for, ordevice configured to perform functions at a 5G New Radio (NR) basestation to support location of a UE with 5G NR wireless access. Here,the functions comprise sending a first Long Term Evolution (LTE)Positioning Protocol (LPP) message received from an access managementfunction (AMF) to the UE, receiving a request for measurement gaps fromthe UE, suspending NR transmission to the UE and NR reception from theUE during the measurement gaps, where the UE obtains at least onelocation measurement based on the first LPP message during themeasurement gaps, and where the at least one location measurement is ameasurement for a Radio Access Technology (RAT)-independent positionmethod or a measurement for an Evolved Universal Terrestrial RadioAccess (E-UTRA) position method. Functions further comprise sending asecond LPP message received from the UE to the AMF, where the second LPPmessage comprises location information for the UE, and where thelocation information is based on the at least one location measurement.

Alternative embodiments may additionally include one or more of thefollowing features. The 5G NR base station may comprise a serving basestation for the UE. The 5G NR base station may transfer the first LPPmessage and the second LPP message inside a Non-Access Stratum (NAS)transport message. The RAT-independent position method may compriseAssisted Global Navigation Satellite System (A-GNSS), Real TimeKinematics (RTK), Precise Point Positioning (PPP), Differential A-GNSS,Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), Bluetooth, Sensors, or anycombination thereof. The E-UTRA position method may comprise ObservedTime Difference Of Arrival (OTDOA) for E-UTRA or Enhanced Cell ID (ECID)for E-UTRA, or any combination thereof. The location information maycomprise a location estimate for the UE. The location information maycomprise the at least one location measurement. The request formeasurement gaps may comprise an NR Radio Resource Control (RRC)message. Functions may also comprise sending an RRC message to the UE,wherein the RRC message confirms the measurement gaps. The at least onelocation measurement may comprise a Reference Signal Time Difference(RSTD) measurement for OTDOA for E-UTRA, and functions may furthercomprise receiving a request from the UE for an idle period, andsuspending NR transmission to the UE and NR reception from the UE duringthe idle period, where the UE obtains LTE timing and a System FrameNumber (SFN) for an OTDOA reference cell during the idle period, andwhere the request for measurement gaps is based on the LTE timing andthe SFN. The request for an idle period may comprise an NR RadioResource Control (RRC) message. Functions may further comprise sendingan RRC message to the UE, wherein the RRC message confirms the idleperiod.

With reference to the appended figures, components that may comprisememory may comprise non-transitory machine-readable media. The term“machine-readable medium” and “computer-readable medium” as used herein,refer to any storage medium that participates in providing data thatcauses a machine to operate in a specific fashion. In embodimentsprovided hereinabove, various machine-readable media might be involvedin providing instructions/code to processing units and/or otherdevice(s) for execution. Additionally or alternatively, themachine-readable media might be used to store and/or carry suchinstructions/code. In many implementations, a computer-readable mediumis a physical and/or tangible storage medium. Such a medium may takemany forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatilemedia, and transmission media. Common forms of computer-readable mediainclude, for example, magnetic and/or optical media, punchcards,papertape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RandomAccess Memory (RAM), a Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM), ErasablePROM (EPROM), a Flash-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, acarrier wave as described hereinafter, or any other medium from which acomputer can read instructions and/or code.

The methods, systems, and devices discussed herein are examples. Variousembodiments may omit, substitute, or add various procedures orcomponents as appropriate. For instance, features described with respectto certain embodiments may be combined in various other embodiments.Different aspects and elements of the embodiments may be combined in asimilar manner. The various components of the figures provided hereincan be embodied in hardware and/or software. Also, technology evolvesand, thus, many of the elements are examples that do not limit the scopeof the disclosure to those specific examples.

Reference throughout this specification to “one example”, “an example”,“certain examples”, or “exemplary implementation” means that aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connectionwith the feature and/or example may be included in at least one featureand/or example of claimed subject matter. Thus, the appearances of thephrase “in one example”, “an example”, “in certain examples” or “incertain implementations” or other like phrases in various placesthroughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to thesame feature, example, and/or limitation. Furthermore, the particularfeatures, structures, or characteristics may be combined in one or moreexamples and/or features.

Some portions of the detailed description included herein are presentedin terms of algorithms or symbolic representations of operations onbinary digital signals stored within a memory of a specific apparatus orspecial purpose computing device or platform. In the context of thisparticular specification, the term specific apparatus or the likeincludes a general purpose computer once it is programmed to performparticular operations pursuant to instructions from program software.Algorithmic descriptions or symbolic representations are examples oftechniques used by those of ordinary skill in the signal processing orrelated arts to convey the substance of their work to others skilled inthe art. An algorithm is here, and generally, is considered to be aself-consistent sequence of operations or similar signal processingleading to a desired result. In this context, operations or processinginvolve physical manipulation of physical quantities. Typically,although not necessarily, such quantities may take the form ofelectrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred,combined, compared or otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient attimes, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to such signalsas bits, data, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers,numerals, or the like. It should be understood, however, that all ofthese or similar terms are to be associated with appropriate physicalquantities and are merely convenient labels. Unless specifically statedotherwise, as apparent from the discussion herein, it is appreciatedthat throughout this specification discussions utilizing terms such as“processing,” “computing,” “calculating,” “determining” or the likerefer to actions or processes of a specific apparatus, such as a specialpurpose computer, special purpose computing apparatus or a similarspecial purpose electronic computing device. In the context of thisspecification, therefore, a special purpose computer or a similarspecial purpose electronic computing device is capable of manipulatingor transforming signals, typically represented as physical electronic ormagnetic quantities within memories, registers, or other informationstorage devices, transmission devices, or display devices of the specialpurpose computer or similar special purpose electronic computing device.

In the preceding detailed description, numerous specific details havebeen set forth to provide a thorough understanding of claimed subjectmatter. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatclaimed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details.In other instances, methods and apparatuses that would be known by oneof ordinary skill have not been described in detail so as not to obscureclaimed subject matter.

The terms, “and”, “or”, and “and/or” as used herein may include avariety of meanings that also are expected to depend at least in partupon the context in which such terms are used. Typically, “or” if usedto associate a list, such as A, B or C, is intended to mean A, B, and C,here used in the inclusive sense, as well as A, B or C, here used in theexclusive sense. In addition, the term “one or more” as used herein maybe used to describe any feature, structure, or characteristic in thesingular or may be used to describe a plurality or some othercombination of features, structures or characteristics. Though, itshould be noted that this is merely an illustrative example and claimedsubject matter is not limited to this example.

While there has been illustrated and described what are presentlyconsidered to be example features, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various other modifications may be made, andequivalents may be substituted, without departing from claimed subjectmatter. Additionally, many modifications may be made to adapt aparticular situation to the teachings of claimed subject matter withoutdeparting from the central concept described herein.

Therefore, it is intended that claimed subject matter not be limited tothe particular examples disclosed, but that such claimed subject mattermay also include all aspects falling within the scope of appendedclaims, and equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method at a user equipment (UE) for supportinglocation of the UE with 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) FifthGeneration (5G) New Radio (NR) wireless access, the method comprising:receiving a first Long Term Evolution (LTE) Positioning Protocol (LPP)message from a location server, wherein the first LPP message comprisesa location request and is received via a serving 5G base station;obtaining at least one location measurement based on the first LPPmessage, wherein the at least one location measurement comprises ameasurement for a Radio Access Technology (RAT)-independent positionmethod or a measurement for an Evolved Universal Terrestrial RadioAccess (E-UTRA) position method; determining location information basedon the at least one location measurement; and sending a second LPPmessage to the location server, wherein the second LPP message comprisesthe location information and is sent via the serving 5G base station. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the location server comprises a LocationManagement Function (LMF).
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein thelocation information comprises a location estimate for the UE.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the location information comprises the atleast one location measurement.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein thefirst LPP message comprises an LPP Request Location Information messageand the second LPP message comprises an LPP Provide Location Informationmessage.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one locationmeasurement comprises the measurement for the RAT-independent positionmethod, and the RAT-independent position method comprises AssistedGlobal Navigation Satellite System (A-GNSS), Real Time Kinematics (RTK),Precise Point Positioning (PPP), Differential A-GNSS, Wireless LocalArea Network (WLAN), Bluetooth, Sensors, or any combination thereof; orwherein the at least one location measurement comprises the measurementfor the E-UTRA position method, and the E-UTRA position method comprisesObserved Time Difference Of Arrival (OTDOA) for E-UTRA or Enhanced CellID (ECID) for E-UTRA, or any combination thereof.
 7. The method of claim1 and further comprising: receiving a third LPP message from thelocation server, wherein the third LPP message comprises assistance datafor the RAT-independent position method or the E-UTRA position methodand is received via the serving 5G base station, and wherein obtainingthe at least one location measurement is based on the assistance data.8. The method of claim 7, wherein the third LPP message comprises an LPPProvide Assistance Data message.
 9. The method of claim 8 and furthercomprising: sending a request for measurement gaps to the serving 5Gbase station; and obtaining the at least one location measurement duringa measurement gap.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the request formeasurement gaps comprises an NR Radio Resource Control (RRC) message.11. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one location measurementcomprises a Reference Signal Time Difference (RSTD) measurement forObserved Time Difference Of Arrival (OTDOA) for E-UTRA, and furthercomprising: sending a request for an idle period to the serving 5G basestation; and obtaining LTE timing and a System Frame Number (SFN) for anOTDOA reference cell during the idle period, wherein the request formeasurement gaps is based on the LTE timing and the SFN.
 12. The methodof claim 11, wherein the OTDOA reference cell comprises a cell for anevolved Node B (eNB) in an E-UTRA network (E-UTRAN) or a cell for a nextgeneration eNB (ng-eNB) in a Next Generation Radio Access Network(NG-RAN), wherein the serving 5G base station is in the NG-RAN.
 13. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the request for the idle period comprises anNR Radio Resource Control (RRC) message.
 14. The method of claim 1 andfurther comprising: receiving a fourth LPP message from the locationserver, wherein the fourth LPP message comprises a request for LPPpositioning capabilities of the UE and is received via the serving 5Gbase station; and sending a fifth LPP message to the location server,wherein the fifth LPP message comprises the LPP positioning capabilitiesof the UE when the UE has NR wireless access and is sent via the serving5G base station.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the fourth LPPmessage comprises an LPP Request Capabilities message and the fifth LPPmessage comprises an LPP Provide Capabilities message.
 16. The method ofclaim 1 and further comprising: sending an indication to an AccessManagement Function (AMF), wherein the indication comprises anindication that the UE supports LPP with NR wireless access, wherein theAMF transfers the indication to the location server.
 17. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the first LPP message is received in a Non-AccessStratum (NAS) transport message and the second LPP message is sent in aNAS transport message.
 18. A user equipment (UE) having 3rd GenerationPartnership Project (3GPP) Fifth Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) wirelessaccess comprising: a wireless communication interface; a memory; and aprocessing unit communicatively coupled with the wireless communicationinterface and the memory, and configured to cause the UE to: receive,using the wireless communication interface, a first Long Term Evolution(LTE) Positioning Protocol (LPP) message from a location server, whereinthe first LPP message comprises a location request and is received via aserving Fifth Generation (5G) base station; obtain, using the wirelesscommunication interface, at least one location measurement based on thefirst LPP message, wherein the at least one location measurementcomprises a measurement for a Radio Access Technology (RAT)-independentposition method or a measurement for an Evolved Universal TerrestrialRadio Access (E-UTRA) position method; determine location informationbased on the at least one location measurement; and send, using thewireless communication interface, a second LPP message to the locationserver, wherein the second LPP message comprises the locationinformation and is sent via the serving 5G base station.
 19. The UE ofclaim 18, wherein the processing unit is further configured to cause theUE to determine the location information by determining a locationestimate for the UE.
 20. The UE of claim 18, wherein the processing unitis configured to cause the UE to obtain the at least one locationmeasurement comprising the measurement for the RAT-independent positionmethod, the RAT-independent position method comprising Assisted GlobalNavigation Satellite System (A-GNSS), Real Time Kinematics (RTK),Precise Point Positioning (PPP), Differential A-GNSS, Wireless LocalArea Network (WLAN), Bluetooth, Sensors, or any combination thereof; orwherein the processing unit is configured to cause the UE to obtain theat least one location measurement for the E-UTRA position method, theE-UTRA position method comprising Observed Time Difference Of Arrival(OTDOA) for E-UTRA or Enhanced Cell ID (ECID) for E-UTRA, or anycombination thereof.
 21. The UE of claim 18, wherein the processing unitis further configured to cause the UE to: receive, using the wirelesscommunication interface, a third LPP message from the location server,wherein the third LPP message comprises assistance data for theRAT-independent position method or the E-UTRA position method and isreceived via the serving 5G base station; and obtain the at least onelocation measurement based on the assistance data.
 22. The UE of claim21, wherein the processing unit is further configured to cause the UE toreceive the third LPP message comprising an LPP Provide Assistance Datamessage.
 23. The UE of claim 22, wherein the processing unit is furtherconfigured to cause the UE to: send, using the wireless communicationinterface, a request for measurement gaps to the serving 5G basestation; and obtain the at least one location measurement during ameasurement gap.
 24. The UE of claim 22, wherein the processing unit isconfigured to cause the UE to send the request for measurement gapsusing an NR Radio Resource Control (RRC) message.
 25. The UE of claim22, wherein the at least one location measurement comprises a ReferenceSignal Time Difference (RSTD) measurement for Observed Time DifferenceOf Arrival (OTDOA) for E-UTRA, and the processing unit is configured tocause the UE to: send, using the wireless communication interface, arequest for an idle period to the serving 5G base station; obtain LTEtiming and a System Frame Number (SFN) for an OTDOA reference cellduring the idle period; and base the request for measurement gaps on theLTE timing and the SFN.
 26. The UE of claim 18, wherein the processingunit is further configured to cause the UE to: receive, using thewireless communication interface, a fourth LPP message from the locationserver, wherein the fourth LPP message comprises a request for LPPpositioning capabilities of the UE and is received via the serving 5Gbase station; and send, using the wireless communication interface, afifth LPP message to the location server, wherein the fifth LPP messagecomprises the LPP positioning capabilities of the UE when the UE has NRwireless access and is sent via the serving 5G base station.
 27. The UEof claim 18, wherein the processing unit is further configured to causethe UE to: send, using the wireless communication interface, anindication to an Access Management Function (AMF), wherein theindication indicates that the UE supports LPP with NR wireless access,wherein the AMF transfers the indication to the location server.
 28. Adevice comprising: means for receiving a first Long Term Evolution (LTE)Positioning Protocol (LPP) message from a location server, wherein thefirst LPP message comprises a location request and is received via aserving Fifth Generation (5G) base station; means for obtaining at leastone location measurement based on the first LPP message, wherein the atleast one location measurement comprises a measurement for a RadioAccess Technology (RAT)-independent position method or a measurement foran Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) position method;means for determining location information based on the at least onelocation measurement; and means for sending a second LPP message to thelocation server, wherein the second LPP message comprises the locationinformation and is sent via the serving 5G base station.
 29. The deviceof claim 28, wherein the location information comprises a locationestimate for the device.
 30. A non-transitory computer-readable mediumhaving instructions embedded thereon to cause a user equipment (UE) tosupport location of the UE with 3rd Generation Partnership Project(3GPP) Fifth Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) wireless access, theinstructions configured to, when executed by a processing unit of theUE, cause the UE to: receive a first Long Term Evolution (LTE)Positioning Protocol (LPP) message from a location server, wherein thefirst LPP message comprises a location request and is received via aserving 5G base station; obtain at least one location measurement basedon the first LPP message, wherein the at least one location measurementcomprises a measurement for a Radio Access Technology (RAT)-independentposition method or a measurement for an Evolved Universal TerrestrialRadio Access (E-UTRA) position method; determine location informationbased on the at least one location measurement; and send a second LPPmessage to the location server, wherein the second LPP message comprisesthe location information and is sent via the serving 5G base station.